The effects of 12 weeks of functional strength training on muscle strength, volume and activity upon exposure to elevated Gz forces in high-performance aircraft personnel

Monika Rausch; Frank Weber; Sven Kühn; Carla Ledderhos; Christoph Zinner; Billy Sperlich

doi:10.1186/s40779-021-00305-8

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The effects of 12 weeks of functional strength training on muscle strength, volume and activity upon exposure to elevated Gz forces in high-performance aircraft personnel

RESEARCH | Updated：2023-02-28

- The effects of 12 weeks of functional strength training on muscle strength, volume and activity upon exposure to elevated Gz forces in high-performance aircraft personnel
- Military Medical Research Vol. 8, Issue 4, Pages: 481-489(2021)
- Affiliations：
  
  1.Multinational Medical Coordination Centre/European Medical Command, Andernacher Strasse 100, 56070 Koblenz, Germany
  2.German Air Force Center of Aerospace Medicine, 82256 Fuerstenfeldbruck, Germany
  3.Department of Radiology, Bundeswehr Central Hospital, 56072 Koblenz, Germany
  4.Department of Sport, University of Applied Sciences for Police and Administration of Hesse, 65199 Wiesbaden, Germany
  5.Integrative & Experimental Exercise Science & Training, Institute of Sport Science, University of Wuerzburg, 97082 Wuerzburg, Germany
- Author bio：
  
  * monikarausch@bundeswehr.org
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1186/s40779-021-00305-8
  CLC：
- Published：2021-12
- Accepted：
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Rausch et al.: The effects of 12 weeks of functional strength training on muscle strength, volume and activity upon exposure to elevated Gz forces in high-performance aircraft personnel. Mil Med Res, 2021, 8: 15.
DOI：

Rausch et al.: The effects of 12 weeks of functional strength training on muscle strength, volume and activity upon exposure to elevated Gz forces in high-performance aircraft personnel. Mil Med Res, 2021, 8: 15. DOI： 10.1186/s40779-021-00305-8.

摘要

Abstract

Background:

Technological advancements in modern military and acrobatic jet planes have resulted in extraordinary psychophysiological loads being exerted upon flying personnel

including inducing neck and back pain. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 12 weeks of functional strength training on 1) the volume and strength of the neck and shoulder muscles and 2) muscular activity upon exposure to helmets of different masses and elevated Gz forces in a long-arm centrifuge in high-performance aircraft personnel.

Methods:

Eighteen participants underwent 12 weeks of functional strength training (

=12) or the control protocol (

=6) without additional strength training. Pre- and post-intervention tests included evaluations of isometric strength of the head extensor muscles

flexion

and lateral flexion and rotation

as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the volume of the

m. sternocleidomastoideus

m. trapezius

and deep neck muscles. Furthermore

during a long-arm centrifuge (+1.4 and +3 Gz) protocol

the muscular activity levels of the m.sternocleidomastoideus

m. trapezius

and

m. erector

spinae muscles were assessed without a flight helmet

with a helmet

and with a helmet and night vision goggles. Each participant’s perception of muscular strain was noted immediately after the long-arm centrifuge protocol.

Results:

The maximal isometric strength in all exercises and muscle volumes increased in the training group but not the control group (

0.05). Relative muscle activity (%MVC) with a helmet decreased after the intervention in the training but not the control group (

=0.01). Relative muscle activity while wearing a helmet and night vision goggles was higher after intervention in the control group than in the training group (

0.01). The perceived muscular strain of the neck muscles induced by the long-arm centrifuge did not differ between the groups.

Conclusions:

Twelve weeks of functional strength training improves the maximal isometric strength and volume of neck and shoulder muscles and leads to lower relative muscle activation upon exposure to elevated Gz forces in a long-arm centrifuge.

关键词

Keywords

references

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