Distribution Centers Using Exoskeletons Cut Total Strain and Sprain Injury Rate by 62%

Fears about potential unintended consequences—like shifting injury risk from the back to other joints or muscle groups—have long been a barrier to exoskeleton adoption. While previous longitudinal data on occupational exoskeletons heavily focused on back strains, for the first time, multi-site industry data suggest that worker injury risk was not transferred to other body parts with this elastic back exosuit. Data from five companies with long-term, sustained exosuit use instead showed meaningful reductions in back injuries, with no corresponding rise in injuries elsewhere when comparing rates before and after deployment.