An exoskeleton joint for a load-bearing powered exoskeleton includes a first exoskeleton link supporting a weight of an external load being applied to the powered exoskeleton and a second exoskeleton link that transfers the weight of the external load to a support surface, i.e., to the ground. In response to a contraction of a muscle of a human user associated with the exoskeleton joint, an electromyography (EMG) sensor generates EMG sensor data based on the muscle contraction. A controller receives the EMG sensor data, determines an actuator command based on the EMG sensor data, and communicates the actuator command to an actuator associated with the exoskeleton joint. This has the advantage that the exoskeleton joint associated with the human users joint can be instructed to move in response to contraction of the muscle of the human user before the muscle causes the human users joint to actually move.
