Publications

Recent Peer-Reviewed Journal Papers

Click a title to open the abstract page. Keywords are in italic. (updated: February 2026)

• Choi, J., Kim, S., Usmani, A. R., Barr, A., Harris-Adamson, C. & Nussbaum, M. A. (2026). Rigid and soft back-support exoskeletons affect biomechanical and perceptual demands, but in different ways, during simulated shingle installation, Applied Ergonomics, 134: 104744 (9 pages).
  Ergonomic intervention; Exoskeleton; Low back pain; Construction; Roofing

• Park, H. & Nussbaum, M. A. (2026) Muscle synergy analysis of short-term adaptation to arm-support exoskeletons during pseudo-static and dynamic overhead tasks, Journal of Biomechanics, 195: 113135 (9 pages).
  Muscle recruitment and coordination; Adaptation; Motor control; Non-negative matrix factorization; Human–robot interaction

• Usmani, A. R., Kim, S., Smets, M. & Nussbaum, M. A. (2026) What drives the effective integration of lift assists in automotive assembly? Perspectives from operators, ergonomists, and manufacturers, Applied Ergonomics, 133: 104711 (10 pages).
  Automotive assembly; Material handling devices; Lift assists; Hoists; Low back; Physical demands; Usability

• Behjati Ashtiani, M., Akhavanfar, M., Li, L., Kim, S. & Nussbaum, M. A. (2026) Model-based vs. measured muscle activity in dynamic lifting tasks with and without back-support exoskeletons, Journal of Biomechanics, 194: 113068 (9 pages).
  Back-support exoskeletons; Musculoskeletal modeling; AnyBody modeling system; OpenSim Muscle activity; Electromyography; Spine

• Ojelade, A., Kim, S., Morris, W., Barr, A., Harris-Adamson, C. & Nussbaum, M. A. (2026) Evaluating back-support exoskeletons in simulated construction-relevant tasks: Effects on task completion time and aspects of usability, Applied Ergonomics, 130: 104661 (9 pages).
  Work-related musculoskeletal disorders; Construction; Assistive devices; Exoskeleton; Obstacle course

• Lee, Y., Alexander, N. B., Pompeli, L., Nyqust, L. V. & Madigan, M. L. (2025) Wrist-worn voice recorders capture the circumstances and context of losses of balance among community-dwelling older adults, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 73(1): 193-198.
  accidental falls; loss of balance; older adults; voice recorder

• Casu, G., Barr, A., Kim, S., Nussbaum, M. A., Rempel, D., Pau, M. & Harris-Adamson, C. (2025) Optimizing passive exoskeleton torque for dynamic overhead work: Phase-specific analysis on muscle activity and perceived exertion, Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 85: 103070 (10 pages).
  Electromyography; EMG; Exoskeleton; Human perception; Musculoskeletal disorders

• Kim, S., Porto, R. & Nussbaum, M. A. (2025) User Experiences and Adoption Factors for a Back-Support Exosuit in Automotive Logistics: Results from Field Testing up to 18 Months, IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors, 13(3): 191-199.
  Long-term adoption; intervention; occupational health; exoskeletons; user acceptance

• Choi, J., Kim, S., Lim, S., Porto, R. & Nussbaum, M. A. (2025) Effectiveness and usability of a trunk posture feedback system: An exploratory, longitudinal study for up to 10 days among vehicle assembly operators, Applied Ergonomics, 128: 104564 (8 pages).
  Musculoskeletal disorders; Real-time posture assessment; Wearable sensor

• Ojelade, A., Rajabi, M. S., Kim, S. & Nussbaum, M. A. (2025) . A data-driven approach to classifying manual material handling tasks using markerless motion capture and recurrent neural networks, International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 107: 103755 (13 pages).
  Physical exposure assessment; Musculoskeletal disorders; Machine learning; Sex differences; Computer vision

• Akinwande, F., Kim, S., Ojelade, A., Muslim, K., Iridiastadi, H., Nasarwanji, M., Kim, J. H. & Nussbaum, M. A. (2025). Perspectives of Mining Personnel on Adopting Occupational Exoskeletons: Comparisons Between a Developed and a Developing Country, Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, 42: 523-536.
  Work-related musculoskeletal disorders; Mining industry; Intervention; Technology adoption; Exoskeleton

• Islam, M. S., Harden, S. M., Lee, S. W., & Lim, S. (In press). Verbal and nonverbal communication differences between in-person and live-streamed group physical activity: a specific investigation into yoga instruction, Ergonomics.
  

• Porta, M., Casu, G., Lim, S., Nussbaum, M. A. & Pau, M. (2025). Use of wearable sensors for continuous field monitoring of upper arm and trunk postures among construction workers, Ergonomics.
  

• Tajdari, M., Forsyth, J., & Lim, S. (2025). Sensitivity to Vibrotactile Stimulation in the Hand and Wrist: Effects of Motion, Temporal Patterns, and Biological Sex, Human Factors, 67(4): 331-346.

• Taori, S. & Lim, S. (2025) Classification algorithms trained on simple (symmetric) lifting data perform poorly in predicting hand loads during complex (free-dynamic) lifting tasks, Applied Ergonomics, 125, 104427.
  EMG, Lifting load classification, Wearable armband, Lifting scenario, Algorithm performance

• (under construction)