Exoskeletons in care: how technology can relieve care workers and keep them on the job

Back pain, work overload and sickness-related absences are part of everyday life for many employees. According to the BKK health report, musculoskeletal disorders lead to above-average absenteeism - in geriatric care alone, this amounted to an average of 9.5 days per year per care worker in 2022. A technological solution could now help to relieve the burden on nursing staff: exoskeletons. But how realistic is their use in practice?

Exoskeletons are wearable support systems that have been specially developed for physically strenuous activities. So-called passive exoskeletons are mainly used in the care sector. The Dutch manufacturer Laevo develops exoskeletons that are especially suitable for physically demanding activities. The focus is on the Laevo FLEX model – a passive exoskeleton that works entirely without external energy sources and provides targeted support for the back muscles during demanding activities. The device has been designed to adapt to different body shapes, is easy to put on and take off and can be easily integrated into everyday care routines.

Lukje Broersma, care worker and user of the Laevo FLEX, describes her experience: "The exoskeleton supports me during my morning rounds, which are quite strenuous. I have to lift people from their beds into their wheelchairs or take them to the lounge. It helps me to distribute the load better from my back to my thighs."

Laevo is currently working closely with the Dutch care group Sevagram to develop a customized exoskeleton for caregivers. The aim is to create an aid that not only reduces back pain, but also allows care workers to work longer and more comfortably.

"We are seeing a high absenteeism rate due to back problems, while care workers are urgently needed," explains Frank Roost, Project Manager Innovation at Sevagram. "We believe that the exoskeleton will become one of the tools that help nurses to work safely and long-term in their profession."

In Germany, too, intensive work is being carried out on innovative solutions for the care sector. In Baden-Württemberg, exoskeleton manufacturer hTRIUS is working closely with its exclusive partner for the healthcare sector: Help Tech. This partnership makes it possible to draw on Help Tech's many years of expertise in the healthcare sector, which originates from another of the company's divisions. Originally developed for use in logistics, the BionicBack has been optimized to perfectly meet the requirements of healthcare facilities. It provides continuous support for the back muscles, stabilizes movements such as lifting and bending and reduces the strain on the spine by up to 30 percent.

Exoskeletons can also play a role in the reintegration of care workers who have had to leave their job temporarily due to physical complaints. Employers report positive experiences when exoskeletons are used specifically to get employees back to work after long periods of absence.

Carolin Mühle from Help Tech explains: "Exoskeletons help to secure the workforce and can therefore also counteract the nursing shortage. Especially in the care sector, where many employees are passionate about their job but are unable to work due to physical strain, they can help in the long term."

In addition to the practical benefits, the introduction of such technologies could also have a positive impact on the working environment. Facilities that provide exoskeletons show that they actively care about the health of their workforce. This sends an important signal in an industry that often works under difficult conditions.

While innovative approaches such as exoskeletons are still in their infancy in Germany, a look at Denmark shows that other countries are already taking prevention more seriously: There, aids for care workers and measures to prevent back disorders are already part of the healthcare system. Germany could benefit from these concepts in order to improve working conditions and make the profession more attractive in the long term.

"I think one aspect is often neglected: the mobility of care staff. The focus is usually on improving the abilities of those in need of care – for example with aids that promote their cognitive or motor fitness. However, it is often overlooked that carers themselves also suffer from ailments. Their mobility is crucial, as it ultimately also affects the mobility of the people they care for," says Carolin Mühle. "Unfortunately, too little is done for care workers in this area. Back pain is often dismissed as normal or as a general social problem. However, there should be targeted measures to relieve the strain and promote mobility, especially for care workers who are under physical strain on a daily basis."

The use of exoskeletons in care is promising, but there are also challenges. The devices are not cheap and acceptance among care staff depends largely on good training and easy integration into everyday working life. The pilot study by the Diakonie Stiftung Salem is expected to show at the end of the year in which situations exoskeletons have a particularly relieving effect and where their limits are. However, initial feedback from the participants is encouraging: most of them can imagine using the technology on a permanent basis.

Jennifer Meyer
REHACARE.com