Cm. Hearon et al., MALE FEMALE SACM ENDURANCE COMPARISON - SUPPORT FOR THE ARMSTRONG LABORATORY MODIFICATIONS TO THE CSU-13B/P ANTI-G SUIT/, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine, 69(12), 1998, pp. 1141-1145
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Sport Sciences","Medicine, General & Internal
Background: The standard anti-G suit (CSU-13B/P) was designed based on
male body structure. Females differ from males with respect to body p
roportionality. In Armstrong Laboratory (AL) studies, females have ter
minated centrifuge simulated air combat maneuvers (SACM) because of an
ti-G suit (CSU-13B/P modified according to original T.O. 14P3-6-121)(O
TO) discomfort. AL modifications to the suit have since been adopted i
n the OTO in an attempt to provide females a best-fit suit (AL Mod). T
he study examined male/female SACM endurance with females wearing both
the OTO and the AL Mod suits. Methods: There were 6 females and 8 mal
es who performed a +5.0 to +9.0 Gz SACM to fatigue using the anti-G st
raining maneuver with anti-G suit inflation. The females performed in
both the OTO and AL Mod suits while the males performed in the OTO sui
t only (OTO was their best-fit suit). Results: Wearing the OTO, males
performed the SACM significantly longer than the females, three of who
m reported severe suit discomfort. However, when the females wore the
AL Mod suit, their SACM endurance almost doubled over their OTO perfor
mance and none reported suit discomfort. When wearing their best-fit s
uits, there was no significant gender difference in SACM endurance. Co
nclusions: These data support the efficacy of the AL modifications to
the CSU-13B/P anti-G suit through greatly improved performance during
the +5.0 to +9.0 SACM in females. These data also suggest that, in the
small sample examined, when fitted with a best-fit anti-G suit, femal
es can endure the +5.0 to +9.0 SACM to the same degree as males.