Male/female SACM endurance comparison: support for the Armstrong Laboratory modifications to the CSU-13B/P anti-G suit.

BACKGROUND

The standard anti-G suit (CSU-13B/P) was designed based on male body structure. Females differ from males with respect to body proportionality. In Armstrong Laboratory (AL) studies, females have terminated centrifuge simulated air combat maneuvers (SACM) because of anti-G suit (CSU-13B/P modified according to original T.O. 14P3-6-121)(OTO) discomfort. AL modifications to the suit have since been adopted in the OTO in an attempt to provide females a best-fit suit (AL Mod). The study examined male/female SACM endurance with females wearing both the OTO and the AL Mod suits.

METHODS

There were 6 females and 8 males who performed a +5.0 to +9.0 Gz SACM to fatigue using the anti-G straining maneuver with anti-G suit inflation. The females performed in both the OTO and AL Mod suits while the males performed in the OTO suit only (OTO was their best-fit suit).

RESULTS

Wearing the OTO, males performed the SACM significantly longer than the females, three of whom reported severe suit discomfort. However, when the females wore the AL Mod suit, their SACM endurance almost doubled over their OTO performance and none reported suit discomfort. When wearing their best-fit suits, there was no significant gender difference in SACM endurance.

CONCLUSIONS

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, females can endure the +5.0 to +9.0 SACM to the same degree as males.