The Impact of Back-supporting Exoskeletons for Manual Order Picking in Danish Warehouses - The RELAX Project

This study investigates the long-term effects of implementing a passive back-support exoskeleton during manual order-picking work in a real-world warehouse environment. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders, particularly low back pain, are common among logistics workers due to frequent lifting, repetitive movements, and awkward postures. Although laboratory studies suggest that occupational exoskeletons can reduce biomechanical load, evidence from long-term, real-world workplace implementations remains limited. The RELAX project is an 18-month controlled in-field intervention study conducted in two departments of a Danish warehouse. Approximately 90 full-time warehouse workers will participate. Workers in the intervention department will use a passive back-support exoskeleton during manual order-picking tasks, while workers in the control department will continue their work as usual. The primary outcomes include sickness absence, employee turnover, perceived work intensity, and musculoskeletal discomfort. Secondary outcomes include productivity, user acceptance of the exoskeleton, and cost-effectiveness of the intervention. Outcomes will be assessed through company records, repeated questionnaires, and focus-group interviews over the 18-month period. By combining longitudinal quantitative outcomes with qualitative process evaluation, the study aims to determine whether long-term use of a passive back-support exoskeleton can improve worker well-being and reduce work-related musculoskeletal burden without negatively affecting productivity. The results may inform workplace policies and future implementation of occupational exoskeletons in physically demanding industries.

NCT Number	NCT07561112
Lead Sponsor	Aalborg University Collaborators: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark, Aarhus University Hospital, Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Rennes
Conditions	Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
Enrollment	90 participants
Start Date	2026-08-01
Primary Completion	2027-01-31 (estimated)
Study Completion	2029-10-31 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-05-07