THE DESIGN OF ARM PRESSURE COVERS TO ALLEVIATE PAIN IN HIGH-G MANEUVERS

Hypothesis: Arm pain has been noted especially when increased coverage anti-G suits are worn in combination with PBG (pressure breathing dur ing G) in high G centrifuge test runs. Arm pain has forced the termina tion of test runs and has the potential to cause a serious decrement i n a pilot's ability to function effectively during high-G flight. Base d on the theory that arm pain is caused by fluid pooling in the arm, f our new pressure cover systems for the arm were designed and tested. M ethods: 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. Dat a were collected on the maximum G's achieved, pain location, and pain intensity. Subjective responses on the comfort and function of each de sign 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 provi ded significantly better protection from arm pain than the control con dition (no protection) and that each of the designs significantly impr oved the maximum G level attained during rapid onset acceleration in t he range of +1G. Conclusion: 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 le vels reported during DFS testing.