The design of arm pressure covers to alleviate pain in high G maneuvers.
OBJECTIVE
Arm pain has been noted especially when increased coverage anti-G suits are worn in combination with PBG (pressure breathing during G) in high G centrifuge test runs. Arm pain has forced the termination of test runs and has the potential to cause a serious decrement in a pilot's ability to function effectively during high-G flight. Based on the theory that arm pain is caused by fluid pooling in the arm, four new pressure cover systems for the arm were designed and tested.


METHODS
Seven test subjects wore each design in a series of runs in a dynamic flight simulator (DFS). Subjects experienced both gradual and rapid onset rate runs with G levels ranging from +3.0 G to +9.0 G. Data were collected on the maximum G's achieved, pain location, and pain intensity. Subjective responses on the comfort and function of each design and overall arm cover design preferences were also obtained via a questionnaire.


RESULTS
Analysis of the DFS data, using a two-factor ANOVA (subjects, designs), revealed that each of the new designs provided significantly better protection from arm pain than the control condition (no protection) and that each of the designs significantly improved the maximum G level attained during rapid onset acceleration in the range of +1 G.


CONCLUSIONS
No positive correlation was found between subject ranking of the four new design concepts at the conclusion of the study in terms of the pain reduction they provided and the pain levels reported during DFS testing.
Watkins
S M
SM
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850-4401, USA.
Welch
L
L
Whitley
P
P
Forster
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation; D001132:Arm; D004867:Equipment Design; D006112:Gravitation; D005676:Gravity Suits; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*