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Hapo CS, the exoskeleton designed for women in the healthcare sector

news

Hapo CS, the exoskeleton designed for women in the healthcare sector

Nursing assistant with a patient

In France, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) related to the back account for more than 12 million lost workdays and are the leading cause of disability before the age of 45. More than 4 out of 5 working individuals have already experienced back problems during or after work. According to Santé Publique France, women are more exposed than men (59% vs. 51%) due to anatomical considerations (muscle mass, curvature, center of gravity) as well as professional factors (overrepresentation in healthcare and caregiving professions).

It is in this context that we created the HAPO CS, a non-motorized exoskeleton designed primarily for women. Lightweight, discreet, and intuitive, it relieves the back in all professions that involve repeated or prolonged bending, particularly in the healthcare sector.

12M

of lost workdays. Leading cause of disability before the age of 45

4/5

individuals who have already had back problems during or after work

59%

women exposed compared to 51% for men

Source: Public Health France

What exactly is the Hapo CS?

Exoskeleton Hapo CS

The HAPO CS is the brand new non-motorized exoskeleton designed by HAPO, especially for women working in the healthcare sector. Its goal: to prevent the onset and worsening of MSDs in workers who:

- Perform partial or full trunk flexions;

- Maintain prolonged bent postures;

- Regularly lift and/or move loads (patients) in an inclined position;

- Perform repetitive tasks with a bent back;

- Work in low or confined spaces that require torso flexion.

Unlike robotic exoskeletons that have a motor and require electrical energy to assist movements, the HAPO CS is a passive exoskeleton: it does not need an external energy source. In short:

- No battery to recharge, no complex maintenance;

- Very lightweight exoskeleton, like a second skin (less than 900 g);

- Total freedom of movement: the user is not constrained by a motor or rigid mechanism;

- Intuitive equipment that does not require technical training;

- Quick setup at the start of a shift: just put on the harness and adjust the straps.

The Hapo CS, a decidedly feminine exoskeleton!

We developed the HAPO CS with women in mind first, who may have different anatomical characteristics: more pronounced lumbar curvature, wider pelvis, different distribution of dorsal muscle mass, lower center of gravity, more pronounced bust, etc.These particularities have a direct impact on work postures and how the body handles physical constraints on a daily basis.To improve women's well-being at work and prevent the onset or worsening of MSDs, the HAPO CS is based on:

- A lumbar belt that fits the naturally more pronounced curve of the female back;

- An innovative chest support system that adjusts to different bust shapes without compressing or hindering movement. Pressure points are distributed to avoid any discomfort, even during prolonged bending;

- Three sizes of textile harness (from 72 to 106 cm) for precise adjustment and support without friction points;

- A strap system to finely adjust the position of the spring rods, as the optimal position of the support points varies according to the user's morphology.

Physical assistance is achieved through spring rods with three strategic anchor points:

- One end fixed on a pivot at the thoracic harness level;

- A central point on the side of the lumbar belt via an adjustable pre-tension strap;

- The lower end fixed to the frames of the thigh sleeves.

The whole is designed to operate in a temperature range of -20°C to +40°C in a dry environment. The textile composition (45% Polyamide, 42% Polyester, 13% Elastane) ensures both comfort and durability of the equipment. To learn more about the advantages and technical features of the Hapo CS, visit the hapo.eu website.

Woman wearing the Hapo CS on a black background
Woman wearing the Hapo CS on a black background
Woman wearing the Hapo CS on a black background

To know

The HAPO CS is not exclusively for women: its adaptability range (from 1.50m to 1.90m) and its different sizes make it an exoskeleton suitable for 98% of body types. Men particularly appreciate its lightness and discreetness.

To know

The HAPO CS is not exclusively for women: its adaptability range (from 1.50m to 1.90m) and its different sizes make it an exoskeleton suitable for 98% of body types. Men particularly appreciate its lightness and discreetness.

Women in healthcare, a population overexposed to MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders)

90%

MSDs reported in the healthcare sector

80%

of the hospital public service is female

41years

average age in the hospital public service

Source: Public Health France

Close-up of the back of a nursing assistant

According to a study by Santé publique France, the health and social care sector is particularly affected by MSDs, where they account for 90% of reported occupational diseases (and up to 96% in the sub-sector of social care without accommodation). Staff responsible for caring for the elderly or physically disabled are most exposed to biomechanical constraints. It should also be noted that the sector is highly feminized in France: 80% of the hospital public service is female, with an average age of 41 years (source). This rate even rises to 87% in the nursing assistant field. Their daily routine includes numerous risky tasks and postures:

- Bed bathing: prolonged bending (15 to 30 min per bath) of the back between 30° and 60° to reach the patient, which creates constant tension on the lumbar muscles and increases pressure on the intervertebral discs;

- Bed-to-chair transfers: twisting of the trunk combined with lifting patients (40 to 80 kg), with asymmetric constraints on the spine and back muscles;

- Changing patients: full back flexion (>90°) with static position maintenance, causing strong compression of the lumbar discs and intense muscle fatigue;

- Meal distribution, hygiene care (shower, dressing), bed making, or walking assistance multiply microtraumas at the vertebrae level, compress the lumbar discs, and promote muscle fatigue.

The HAPO CS naturally integrates into these daily gestures. By reducing tension on the lumbar muscles during bending, it allows healthcare staff to fully focus on the quality of care provided to patients.

Its lightness and discreetness under work attire preserve the agility needed for technical gestures while relieving the back during the most demanding tasks such as transfers or bathing. The progressive assistance offered by the spring rods adapts to each movement for optimal support without ever hindering the caregiver-patient relationship.

Other use cases of the Hapo CS

Beyond the healthcare sector, MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) are by far the leading cause of occupational diseases in France. Trunk flexions, whether partial (30° - 90°) or complete (>90°), are responsible for a large portion of these disorders, especially when they are repeated or maintained for several minutes.

The Hapo CS therefore finds its place in very different professional environments, from logistics warehouses to construction sites and agricultural operations, where women are increasingly present.

In the construction industry, the female workforce has increased from 8.6% in 2000 to nearly 13% today (source). It should also be noted that 8 out of 10 cleaning agents are women, and the agricultural sector remains an important provider of jobs for women (35.8% of total employees and 26.7% of self-employed workers).

The lightness of the Hapo CS and its streamlined design allow for quick (and accepted) integration into all these contexts, even when workers alternate between tasks that strain the back and those that do not.

13%

the workforce in the construction sector are women

80%

cleaning agents are women

35.8%

employees in the agricultural sector are women

Source: www.preventionbtp.fr

Woman leaning forward and handling boxes

Preserve the health of your teams with the Hapo CS

Back MSDs have a direct impact on the quality of life of workers as well as on the functioning of companies. Beyond work stoppages and associated costs, they durably affect the well-being of teams and their ability to perform their jobs calmly.

The Hapo CS is part of a comprehensive preventive approach: by reducing the strain of tasks that stress the back, it allows your employees to preserve their health capital in the long term.

Reduction of back muscle strain
by redirecting the effort from the back to the thighs

Comfort of use,
reduction of fatigue, prevention of back MSDs

Preservation of Intervertebral Discs

Maintaining Postural Balance

Contact one of our experts

Our teams are at your disposal to assess your needs and organize real-life tests to allow your employees to experience the benefits of Hapo CS in their work environment.

Contact one of our experts

Our teams are at your disposal to assess your needs and organize real-life tests to allow your employees to experience the benefits of Hapo exoskeletons in their work environment.