Providing physical relief for nurses by collaborative robotics.

ABSTRACT: Manual patient handling is one of the most significant challenges leading to musculoskeletal burden among healthcare workers. Traditional working techniques could be enhanced by innovations that can be individually adapted to the physical capacity of nurses. We evaluated the use of a robotic system providing physical relief by collaboratively assisting nurses in manual patient handling tasks. By quantifying kinetic and muscle activity data, it was possible to distinguish two kinds of movement patterns. Highly asymmetric postures and movements corresponded to distinct extremes in lower limb and spine muscle activity data. The use of collaborative robotics significantly reduced maximum force exertion in the caregiving process by up to 51%. Lateral flexion and torsion of the trunk were reduce

SUBMITTER: Brinkmann A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9125974 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature