title: Prolonged restricted sitting effects in UH-60 helicopters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advances in flight technologies and the demand for long-range flight have increased mission lengths for U.S. Army Black Hawk UH-60 crewmembers. Prolonged mission times have increased reports of pilot discomfort and symptoms of paresthesia thought to be due to UH-60 seat design and areas of locally high pressure. Discomfort created by the seat-system decreases situational awareness, putting aviators and support crew at risk of injury. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of prolonged restricted sitting in a UH-60 on discomfort, sensory function, and vascular measures in the lower extremities.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 15 healthy men (age = 23.4 ± 3.1 yr) meeting physical flight status requirements who sat in an unpadded, UH-60 pilot's seat for 4 h while completing a common cognitive task. During the session, subjective discomfort, sensory function, and vascular function were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across 4 h of restricted sitting, subjective discomfort increased using the Category Partitioning Scale (30.27 point increase) and McGill Pain Questionnaire (8.53 point increase); lower extremity sensory function was diminished along the S1 dermatome; and skin temperature decreased on both the lateral (2.85°C decrease) and anterior (2.78°C decrease) aspects of the ankle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that prolonged sitting in a UH-60 seat increases discomfort, potentially through a peripheral nervous or vascular system mechanism. Further research is needed to understand the etiology and onset of pain and paresthesia during prolonged sitting in UH-60 pilot seats. Games KE, Lakin JM, Quindry JC, Weimar WH, Sefton JM. Prolonged restricted sitting effects in UH-60 helicopters.
authors.affiliation: Warrior Research Center and School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Games
authors.forename: Joni M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lakin
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Quindry
authors.forename: Wendi H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Weimar
authors.forename: JoEllen M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sefton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000401:Aircraft; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005528:Foot / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010092:Oximetry; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012881:Skin Temperature; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult