"Effective for Seniors and Rehabilitation Patients": ETRI Develops Ultra-Lightweight Elastic Suit
by Jeong Ilwoong
Published 11 Dec.2025 09:01(KST)
An ultra-lightweight elastic suit has been developed to reduce the physical burden in the daily lives of seniors and rehabilitation patients.
The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced on December 11 that it has developed an ultra-lightweight wearable assistive device based on a tensegrity structure to support the physical activities of seniors, rehabilitation patients, and workers. The institute confirmed its effectiveness in improving physical functions through clinical trials.
The developed elastic suit weighs less than 1 kg, making it relatively easy to wear. Its strengths include cost-effectiveness and the ability to sufficiently provide essential physical assistance functions.
The tensegrity structure applied to the elastic suit maintains a stable form by balancing tensile strength and stability. This is similar to how umbrellas and tents use lightweight cords and frames to maintain their shape and structure.
ETRI successfully applied this principle to a human assistive device, supporting the spine and lower limbs and reducing the physical burden on users during everyday movements such as sitting and standing, walking, and lifting objects.
In particular, this technology assists with balance at necessary moments without interfering with the user's movements, thereby promoting efficient motion and helping to strengthen the muscle strength and endurance of users with reduced physical abilities.
ETRI, in collaboration with the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Chungbuk National University Hospital, conducted clinical trials involving 20 participants, including seniors over 65 and individuals with physical disabilities. The clinical trial measured changes in key physical functions-such as walking speed, balance, lower limb strength, and cardiorespiratory endurance-before and after wearing the elastic suit.
As a result, users wearing the elastic suit experienced a roughly 14% increase in walking speed compared to before wearing it. The time required to lift and move objects decreased by 22%, and the time taken to climb stairs was reduced by 18%.
The ability to stand up from a chair, which reflects lower limb strength, improved by 40%. In addition, the walking distance-a measure of cardiorespiratory endurance-increased by about 9%. Overall, users reported high satisfaction with the effects of wearing the elastic suit, its perceived weight, and its structural safety.
ETRI is currently preparing real-world usability tests of the elastic suit in various settings, including senior rehabilitation centers, day care centers, and industrial sites. The institute aims to contribute to solving medical, care, and labor environment issues in an ultra-aged society through future commercialization.
Shin Hocheol, Ph.D., head of the Human Augmentation Research Laboratory at ETRI, said, "The elastic suit developed by our research team was inspired by the structure of the human musculoskeletal system. As a platform that can be expanded from passive products weighing less than 1 kg to active systems equipped with motors and AI, we expect it to have a wide range of applications in the future."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.