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Show 14 • Hilltop Times August 12, 2004 • ~ Ann Scientists studying aircrew long-haul comfort lettiere said. "While there are some techniques such as stretching exercises that can alleviAir Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs ate some of the tension, the search has been on to develop new passive technologies that WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio (AFPN) — can improve comfort and reduce fatigue with For many Air Force aircrews, discomfort caused the goal of improving the overall performance by sitting on extended missions is just part of of the crewmember." and well-being the job. Lab scientists have worked closely with volCol. Kerry Keithcart, a KC-135 Stratotanker unteer test subjects to measure pressure dispilot for the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Gristribution and how different people interface som Air Reserve Base, Ind., said he and his crew with different types of cushion materials. do what they can to make those longer missions "During tests, a subject puts on a flight suit more bearable. and settles into a mock-up ejection seat that's "Some of us try to stretch and that's of some fitted with (an) Xsensor," Mr. Pellettiere said. value. We also drink a lot of water to stay hydrated," "After about 10 minutes, which is the time it Colonel Keithcart said. "But when you're sittakes for the cushion to warm up and conting in one position for as many as 13 hours at form to the body surface, a snapshot of how a time, you're going to experience different that subject is sitting on the cushion is collected. aches and pains." The test subject then sits on that cushion for Colonel Keithcart and many others in the airan extended period of time while performing crew population have experienced specific physsome cognitive tasks to measure performance iological problems associated with sitting on and filling out some surveys to rate his overseat cushions in current Air Force aircraft rangor discomfort." all comfort ing from muscle soreness to overall fatigue. To As part of the study, scientists have tested address those problems, scientists at the Air candidate seats for the fixed aircrew seat Force Research Laboratory's human effecstandardization program, which is develtiveness directorate here are studying how difoping crew and mission seats for C-135 Straferent seat cushion materials and designs affect Photo by Joseph Peltetttere tolifter, C-130 Hercules and E-3 Sentry aircraft. those problems. A volunteer test subject sits in a mock-up ejection seat at the Air Force Research Laboratory's human effecA contract is also in place to develop a generic tiveness directorate at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The seat is fitted with a special device that measures Test subjects were photographed while sithow much pressure is being exerted on the seat cushion and where the "hot spots" are located. Those "hot seat cushion specification for both fixed and ting on the seat cushions for various periods of spots" can cause reduced blood flow leading to blood clots and other physiological problems. The goal of ejection seats. time, said project manager Joseph Pellettiere. the testing is to develop improved cushions. "Our data is feeding directly into those pro"Photographs reveal dangerous pressure grams," Mr. Pellettiere said. "All the data will blood flow and causing a numbing sensation. points that can develop when people sit for long people on different cushions." be gathered to develop cushion guidelines that Because of this reduced blood flow, it's possiThe obvious question seems to be: Why does periods of time," Mr. Pellettiere said. seat developers can apply to new seat cushion ble to develop a clot that can be dislodged and it matter what the pressure distribution is for a But these are not your ordinary photographs. designs to ensure the continued success of our travel to other areas of the body where it can They are collected from a device called an "Xsen- crewmember on a cushion? The answer lies crewmembers." be a big problem." sor" which is made up of 900 sensors that respond in preventing deep vein thrombosis and trying to prevent sore spots that cause people to squirm, While the risk of developing DVT is low, the That is good news to Colonel Keithcart and to pressure. Mr. Pellettiere explained. his KC-135 crew. other adverse effects of sitting for long periods 'The device works on capacitance technol"I think the concept is great," he said. "We are quite common — tingling and numbness in ogy, and as the space inside the sensors changes, 'The risk of DVT has been shown to increase have enough challenges in the aircrew world the extremities, leg and back pain and overall with the amount of time the tissues in the body an output voltage is recorded by a computer like sleep cycles and long days, and anything fatigue, Mr. Pellettiere said. For commercial and displayed on a computer screen," Mr. Pelare compressed and leg muscle activity is the Air Force Research Lab can do to make our long-haul flights, passengers can generally get lettiere said. 'This pressure mat is only fracreduced," he said. 'This occurs because the mission more reasonable is time and money up out of their seats and move around if need tions of an inch thick and very pliable. As such, deepest part of the calf muscles partially relies it conforms quite well to a variety of seat cush- on muscle activity to promote good blood flow. be; however, most crewmembers are not afforded well spent." ions and the human anatomy to give a reading (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News "Furthermore, with increased periods of pres- this same luxury. on how much pressure is being exerted, and Service. Second Lt. Christy Stravolo, o/AFMC "It's not uncommon for some missions to last sure applied to the body's tissues, the capillarwhere the 'hot spots' are located for different Public Affairs, contributed to this story.) from eight to 44 hours of seat time," Mr. Pelies begin to close off, reducing the amount of by Larine Barr i«*^^a^H««a PRESSURE RELIEVING SWEDISH MATTRESS AND PILLOW Tempur-Pedic* vs Inner Spring Mattress The advanced, multi-layer construction o( Tempur-Pedic* mattresses has many advantages over a traditional inner spring mattress. 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