The Steady Rise Of Interest In Sports Exoskeletons

MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, ITALY: German Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher skies in the winter resort of … [+] Madonna di Campiglio, in the Dolomites area, northern Italy, 13 January 2005. Schumacher takes part in the traditionnal Ferrari winter meeting with the press. AFP PHOTO / Ferrari Press Office (Photo credit should read FERRARI PRESS OFFICE/AFP via Getty Images)

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Wearable technology and sports have always been closely related. There is an intrinsic understanding that participating in sports requires money for gear and the time to put it on. Naturally, not all sports are created equal. You can get away with just a racquet, a few balls, some running shoes, and finding some court space to play tennis. On the other hand, skiing can get significantly more involved, requiring gear, goggles, clothing, and more.

One common trend in all sports is the steady proliferation of wearable sensors. These sensors show how many calories you burned while playing, your heart rate, how fast you moved, and more. While wearable sensors can alert you, they can’t physically interact with your body. This is where exoskeleton devices are starting to gain a foothold.

Exoskeletons for Skiing

Skiing can tax the knees and leg muscles, especially for those who enjoy spending the entire day on the slopes. Prior knee injuries, aging, or some disorders can all contribute to fatigue, pain, and, ultimately, shortening the day on the snow. For some, that can mean leaving behind friends or family members because their bodies can’t keep up.

This is where ski exoskeleton devices have been able to help. They are mechanical systems that provide physical support to the user. Typically worn between the ski boot and hips, they offload some of the strain off the knees while also acting as shock absorbers. About half a dozen companies have made these devices over the past decade, and usually, they can be worn over or under the baggier weather protection pants so no one can even know that they are on. They allow skiers to enjoy the sport longer by minimizing leg fatigue or knee pain.

Not all companies that have invested time and money in developing ski exoskeletons have found instant success. But Ski~Mojo, arguably the leader in this field, estimates that by the end of the 2025 ski season, 34,000 individuals will have used their product (either as a purchase or a rental). To put this in perspective, these are as good numbers as any occupational exoskeleton, however there are far more companies working on wearables for workers.

Ski exoskeletons are also starting to be used by professional instructors seeking lower recovery times and added safety. Coincidentally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists employees of skiing facilities as one of the top five injury-prone professions for 2023 (although what percentage of that are musculoskeletal injuries due to muscle exertion at the legs is not apparent).

Exoskeletons for Sports Injury Prevention

While sport exoskeletons for skiing have been around for a decade and can mitigate the risk of injury, a new class of wearables solely focused on injury prevention has emerged recently. These systems have embedded accelerometers that detect dangerous movements and engage to brace a joint before an injury occurs.

Without any spoilers, the 2024 movie Challengers’ plot revolves around tennis player injuries. Startup companies are now creating wearables that inflate or become rigid right before causing a potentially career-ending injury. Currently, an exoskeleton is being developed for the knee, and similar devices are on the market for the ankle.

Of course, sports are not limited to skiing and tennis. There is at least one exosuit product on the market to assist with golfing already by storing and releasing elastic energy to accelerate the swing.

Regardless of whether it is to collect data, avoid injuries, or be able to participate in a sport longer with less pain and fatigue, consumer wearable devices are starting to gain popularity with no signs of slowing down. It is natural that as consumers get used to wearable sensors, they will want their devices to do more with the data they are collecting and become more receptive to exoskeletons over time.

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