ReviewWearable technologies2025
Mapping the evidence on occupational exoskeleton use for the workforce in healthcare, social care, and industry: A systematic scoping review.
Review in Wearable technologies, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Occupational Exoskeletons as a Technological Solution for Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review of Barriers and Facilitators for Sustainable Workplace Integration.Journal of occupational rehabilitation · 2026Pooled it
- A Causally Inspired Counterfactual Evaluation Framework for Wearable Assistive Robots.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Acceptance of an upper body exoskeleton for occupational tasks among soldiers.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Musculoskeletal disorders remain a leading occupational health challenge in physically demanding sectors such as healthcare, social care, and industry. Exoskeletons - wearable devices designed to mitigate physical strain are increasingly explored as potential solutions; however, factors affecting their adoption in real-world settings remain underexplored. This novel scoping review systematically maps the existing evidence on the application of commercially available exoskeletons within real and simulated work environments, focusing on usage patterns, user experiences, and factors influencing implementation. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews, a systematic literature search was conducted across the Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE, with an initial search in May 2023 and an update in May 2024. Forty-nine papers met the inclusion criteria based on the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework. Data were extracted using a standardized form and synthesized descriptively, thematically, and through content analysis. Results are presented in narrative, tabular, and conceptual map formats. Exoskeletons were used most frequently in industry (manufacturing) and perioperative care (healthcare). Although, the devices reduced muscle load during repetitive or static tasks, adoption was constrained by discomfort and fit challenges, thermal burden, and limited usability in dynamic settings. Thematic analysis revealed how user experiences were shaped by professional identity, task compatibility, organizational support, and social norms. A conceptual map synthesized sector-specific and cross-sectoral barriers and facilitators. This review highlights the need for inclusive, context-sensitive, and longitudinal research to support safe, acceptable, and effective exoskeleton adoption and implementation across diverse occupational environments.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.