The Effect of Physical Conditioning on +Gz Tolerance
Abstract
The influence of physical conditioning on tolerance to a centrifugation profile of alternating 15 second plateaus at 4.5 and 7.0 +G sub z--called Simulated Aerial Combat Maneuvering (SACM)--was determined using 24 young men as subjects. These subjects were assigned to groups as controls (C) (no physical training), runners (R), and weight trainers (W); and followed a 12 week protocol of specified physical training. During this protocol, tolerance to centrifugation, maximum oxygen consumption, muscle strength, and body composition were periodically determined. Venous blood samples and fatigue assessments were taken before and after the SACM tolerance tests at the beginning and end of the study. SCAM tolerance was defined as the total time that a subject could withstand continuous exposure to the centrifugation profile as determined by his voluntary endpoint from fatigue or 50% central light loss. The +G sub z tolerance of the runners and controls increased at an average rate of 4 seconds per week during the course of the experiment. On the other hand, the weight trainers increased their G tolerance at an average rate of 15 seconds per week. The differences between group W and groups C and R were statistically significant at the 5% level.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA092525
Entities
People
- William L. Epperson
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology