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Arm pain among Swedish fighter pilots during +Gz flight and centrifuge exposures
1Department of Human Studies, National Defence Research Establishment, Stockholm, Sweden.
Background:
The purpose was to survey the occurrence of arm pain among Swedish fighter or test pilots in connection with exposures to high +Gz load when flying or performing centrifuge tests.
Hypothesis:
+Gz induced arm pain occurs in connection with high +Gz loads in flight as well as in centrifuge tests of high performance fighter pilots.
Methods:
A questionnaire was used for data collection regarding +Gz induced arm pain. Respondents were 35 Swedish Air Force Viggen and Gripen fighter pilots who had previously participated as subjects in centrifuge tests between 1990 and 1995 at Brooks Air Force Base, TX, either with the standard anti-G suit or with extended coverage anti-G suit with pressure breathing during +Gz.
Results:
Of the respondents, 55% reported that they had experienced arm pain during flight at least once and 42% experienced it more than three times. However, arm pain was more common in the centrifuge tests (82% once; and 42% more than 3 times).
Conclusions:
Presence of arm pain during high performance fighter aircraft flights is a phenomenon that should be taken into consideration when designing high performance aircraft or +Gz protective equipment.