Ambivalent acceptance of active exoskeletons in long-term care: between perceived task-specific support and practical constraints

Background

Lower back pain (LBP) is prevalent among nursing staff in long-term care facilities. This condition has been linked to repetitive resident handling, sustained non-neutral postures, and cumulative physical workloads. Despite growing interest in exoskeletons as ergonomic and digital assistive technologies (DAT), evidence regarding the implementation of active exoskeletons in real-world nursing practice remains limited.

Objective