RELATIVE ANAEROBIC POWER ESTIMATED FROM THE WINGATE TEST AND ENDURANCE TO HIGH +Gz CENTRIFUGE EXPOSURE.

Abstract

1783 Reportedly, one of the limiting factors to high +Gz endurance is muscular strength. Previously, a significant relationship was reported between absolute anaerobic power (from the Wingate Cycle Test (WCT) and +Gz endurance. This association was used to support the relationship between strength and +Gz endurance. However, the relationship between power, relative to body mass, and +Gz endurance was not significant. The study examined, in males, subject endurance to a relatively low +Gz (4.5 to 7 Gz) simulated air combat maneuver (4.5-7 SACM) and used a WCT workload not in agreement with the current literature. In another study, similar results were shown in females exposed to the 4.5-7 SACM, but again no significance was detected when the WCT data were analyzed relative to subject body mass. The present study examined the relationship between endurance to a high +Gz (5 to 9 Gz) profile (5-9 SACM) and anaerobic power(estimated by WCT) relative to body mass. Subjects (6 females, 8 males) endured a 5-9 SACM to fatigue. All subjects utilized the anti-G straining maneuver and a “best-fit” anti-G suit to endure the centrifuge exposure. SACM duration (s) was recorded. Subjects performed the WCT according to the most current published recommendations. In the sample examined, no significant relationship was found to exist between SACM endurance and either relative mean anaerobic power (r=0.27, p=0.3488) or relative peak anaerobic power (r=0.09, p=0.7625). The data suggest that anaerobic power (from most current WCT procedures) relative to body mass (recommended by WCT literature when examining subjects varying in body mass) is not significantly related to 5-9 SACM endurance. However, these results do not question the findings of previous studies which suggest that muscular strength is related to high+Gz endurance. Data from the WCT reflect muscle power and local muscle endurance and not specific muscular strength. While, in theory, the WCT variables should correlate with muscular strength, a battery of specific strength tests should be utilized to better define the role of muscular strength in +Gz endurance.