{
  "abstract": "Introduction: This study examined how passive shoulder exoskeletons, body archetype, sex, and shoulder elevation influence maximal drill-weight selection during overhead tasks. Methods: Twenty-nine construction workers (11 females, 18 males) completed high-frequency drilling every 12 seconds at a target force of 70 N across three shoulder elevations (90°, 120°, 150°), each performed for 5 minutes with and without a passive exoskeleton. Participant anthropometrics were captured using a 3D body scanner, and body archetypes were derived through k cluster analysis following variable extraction. A Psychophysical approach was used to determine maximal acceptable drill weight. Results: Mixed linear regression showed exoskeleton use increased selected weight by 336 g (~18%) (p < 0.001) compared to not wearing an exoskeleton. Smaller body archetypes selected 317 g (~17%) less than larger builds (p < 0.001), while medium builds showed no difference (p = 0.63). Males selected weights 300 g (~16%) heavier than females (p = 0.030). Shoulder elevation had no significant effect. Conclusions: These findings highlight key anthropometric and equipment related factors shaping overhead task demands.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness, and Performance, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Maria Cristina Herrera Valerio"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mohammad Howard-Azzeh"
    },
    {
      "name": "Marcus Yung"
    },
    {
      "name": "Amin Yazdani"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8t3s06cg7vx67.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0357036",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "8t3s06cg7vx67",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357036",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3207|Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Anthropometry"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Musculoskeletal system/Shoulders"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Physiological parameters/Body weight"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animal physiology/Exoskeleton"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Human factors engineering/Ergonomics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Anthropometry"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Musculoskeletal system/Shoulders"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Materials science/Materials physics/Material fatigue"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Physics/Classical mechanics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Physics/Classical mechanics/Damage mechanics/Material fatigue"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Physics/Materials physics/Material fatigue"
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  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0357036&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-23",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8t3s06cg7vx67.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0357036",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357036"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:anatomy",
      "subfield": "physiology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Psychophysical estimates guidelines for maximal acceptable loads during unilateral overhead work while wearing an exoskeleton in construction workers",
  "title_text": "Psychophysical estimates guidelines for maximal acceptable loads during unilateral overhead work while wearing an exoskeleton in construction workers",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8t3s06cg7vx67",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}