Wearing an Arm Support Exoskeleton Does Not Affect Balance but May Decrease Dynamic Stability During a Step-Down Maneuver

Federico Arippa, Alan Barr, Brandon Phillips, Sunwook Kim, Maury A. Nussbaum, Carisa Harris-Adamson, Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, School of Public Health, University of California, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Department of Industrial and System Engineering, Virginia Tech

Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

Published online on April 11, 2026

Abstract

Human Factors, Volume 68, Issue 9, Page 1148-1163, September 2026.
ObjectiveAssess the effects of arm support exoskeletons (ASEs) on dynamic balance during dynamic tasks.BackgroundASEs can reduce muscle activation during labor-intensive tasks, potentially alleviating fatigue, discomfort, and injury risk. However, ...