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Is there central fatigue during simulated air combat maneuvering?
1Environmental Physiology Section, Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine, North York, Ontario, Canada.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Repeated exposure to high Gz acceleration and Anti-G Straining Maneuvers (AGSM) did not cause central fatigue in pilots. This suggests other factors limit AGSM performance during sustained acceleration.
Area of Science:
- Aerospace Medicine
- Human Physiology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Sustained high Gz acceleration exposure is common in aviation.
- The Anti-G Straining Maneuver (AGSM) is crucial for maintaining G-tolerance.
- Central fatigue is a potential limiting factor in AGSM performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if repeated high Gz acceleration and AGSM cause central fatigue.
- To determine if central fatigue impairs the ability to perform adequate AGSM.
- To investigate the role of central nervous system (CNS) function impairment.
Main Methods:
- Measured maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force and electromyography (EMG) of leg muscles.
- Evaluated muscle response to electrical stimulation during MVCs.
- Assessed changes before, during, and after sustained acceleration (SACM) with hypoxia.
Main Results:
- No significant changes in MVC force or response to electrical stimulation were observed.
- Hypoxia during SACM did not induce central fatigue markers.
- Forces generated during the +7 Gz phase were ~35% of MVC and did not change significantly.
Conclusions:
- Inability to sustain AGSM during SACM is unlikely due to central fatigue.
- Fatigue in large skeletal muscle groups examined does not appear to be the primary cause.
- Further research is needed to identify the specific mechanisms limiting AGSM performance.