Paexo Shoulder​

Manual work above shoulder and head height puts a great deal of strain on the joints and muscles of the shoulders, arms and back. The neck muscles can also get very tense due to tilting the head back. Such activities can lead to work-related disorders of the musculoskeletal system over the long term.

Paexo Shoulder is a passive exoskeleton from Ottobock that supports people who carry out physically demanding tasks with their arms raised on a daily basis. It relieves strain on the shoulder joints and upper arms, for example when performing overhead work in assembly or trades.

Paexo Shoulder is worn close to the body, similar to a backpack. It transfers weight from the arms to the hips with the help of its supporting structures. With its intelligent, purely mechanical cable pull technology, the exoskeleton makes it easier to raise the arms and hold them up, thereby reducing uncomfortable load peaks in the shoulder and neck region.

Ottobock researched the influence of overhead exoskeletons on the body’s biomechanics with experts from the very beginning during the development of Paexo Shoulder. Meanwhile two studies prove the effectiveness and document the highly positive results regarding relief for the entire body thanks to Paexo Shoulder.

Paexo Shoulder should not be exposed to excessive sunlight or temperatures below -10 °C or above 45 °C. Contact with heat, embers and fire should also be avoided.

The textiles of Paexo Shoulder are removable, washable and reusable. The technology components can be wiped with a damp cloth. A hygiene set for replacing the textiles can be ordered.

About one quarter (23.2%) of days missed because of inability to work in Germany are due to musculoskeletal disorders (data from 2013). This figure increases with age: among people older than 55, it already accounts for more than 35%. Thus the economic cost of musculoskeletal disorders is considerable (loss of gross value added: approx. EUR 20 billion, 2013 data) (see DGUV).

There is a proven, direct relationship between overhead work and musculoskeletal disorders. Physical relief provided by exoskeletons can contribute to reducing work-related health hazards, time away from work and accidents. An exoskeleton can therefore make a major contribution to preventive healthcare for employees.

No, you still have to perform all movements yourself. The Paexo Shoulder exoskeleton merely reduces load peaks by redistributing loads.

No, Paexo Shoulder provides relief and support for people. It improves ergonomics and can increase motivation, but it is not a performance-boosting exoskeleton.

The biomechanical design permits full freedom of movement. Thus you can sit down with the Paexo Shoulder or pick up fallen objects.

Yes, the level of support is individually adjustable for people and activities.

Paexo Shoulder can be adapted to body heights from about 160 to 190 cm.

We recommend personal assignment of the exoskeleton. Only then can the optimum effectiveness of Paexo Shoulder be guaranteed. Sharing it with another user is also not recommended for hygiene reasons. However, Paexo Shoulder can be easily retrofitted and sanitised in order to assign it to a new long-term user.

After a familiarisation phase, it takes only about 30 seconds to put on and take off.

The period of use for Paexo Shoulder is not limited. Since Paexo Shoulder is easy to put on and take off, it can easily be removed when not in use, for example when rotating workstations or during breaks.

With its weight of less than two kilograms, Paexo Shoulder is the lightest exoskeleton of its kind.

The Paexo Shoulder is made in Germany.