Biomechanical analysis of different back-supporting exoskeletons regarding musculoskeletal loading during lifting and holding.

Industrial back support exoskeletons (BSEs) are a promising approach to addressing low back pain (LBP) which still affect a significant proportion of the workforce. They aim to reduce lumbar loading, the main biomechanical risk factor for LBP, by providing external support to the lumbar spine. The aim of this study was to determine the supporting effect of one active (A1) and two passive (P1 and P2) BSEs during different manual material handling tasks.

Effect of prolonged physical exercise on fluid regulating hormones.

Sixteen well-trained young men performed a test marathon to study the behaviour of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and its second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in relation to changes in plasma volume (PV) and plasma proteins, arginine vasopressin (AVP), renin, aldosterone, potassium and sodium. Blood samples were drawn under standardized conditions before and immediately after the run, as well as 3 h and 31 h after the run. Directly after the run, a two-and-a-half fold increase of plasma ANP and a twofold increase of plasma cGMP level were found, whereas PV decreased significantly by 7.