Neck Muscle Fatigue Resulting from Prolonged Wear of Weighted Helmets under High G Acceleration

Abstract

In search of guidelines for designing helmet-mounted systems without adding risk for additional pilot neck pain or injury, RHPG collaborated with the panoramic night vision goggle (PNVG) program office to begin this research. Neck muscles become fatigued as they work to stabilize the additional weight of helmet systems. The center of gravity (CG) of each individual helmet configuration varies according to the accessories attached. Neck strength measurements before and after high G simulations provided indications of muscle fatigue related to different helmets. Results show that volunteer test subjects tolerated the additional loads stabilized by their neck muscles when changes in CG are controlled. Questions remain unanswered concerning heavier helmets when CG cannot be controlled and how they might influence operational performance.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA487277

Entities

People

  • Bob Esken
  • Chuck Goodyear
  • Edward S. Eveland
  • Matt Kane
  • Nick Shouse

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Center Of Gravity
  • Design Criteria
  • Electromyography
  • Health Services
  • Load Cells
  • Measurement
  • Musculoskeletal Physiology
  • Night Vision
  • Pain
  • Recognition
  • Simulations
  • Simulators
  • Skeletal Muscle
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Target Recognition

Readers

  • Circadian Sleep-Wake Regulation and Chronobiology
  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).
  • Mathematics or Statistics