Studies on the human tolerance to centrifugal acceleratory force and physical fitness in luge and bobsleigh players

Abstract

Luge and bobsleigh game, which are stirring but dangerous winter sports, have had only a short history in Japan and little study have been done on them from the viewpoints of sports medicine and physical fitness. It is very important and urgent for safety to elucidate the physiological effects of centrifugal acceleration upon the game players, which may be generated when the sleigh descend with high speed along a steeply curved ice course. Upon this, human G tolerance and physical fitness were tested and discussed in total of 48 Japanese subjects, including 4 females, who are candidates for the Olympic team of luge and bobsleigh game. Main results are as follows. 1. Grayout threshold (+Gz tolerance) was determined in each subjects using human centrifuge apparatus. Averaged tolerance limits were+5.67±0.56 Gz and +5.90±0.43 Gz in luge and bobsl eigh players, respectively. All subjects showed appropriate physiological responses in blood pressure and heart rate during exposure to G. 2. The results of anthropometric and physical fitness test were thought to be reasonable as the value for trained athletes. 3. About 30% of subjects showed a decreased or mistaken stick performance when Coriolis stimulation were given to them in mild centrifugal G field. 4. It is thought for maintaining safety in the games that all the players should have appropriate G tolerance and physiological responses to G load and should be trained to prevent them from causing spatial disorientation by Coriolis stimulation during the game. For this, it is recommended that they should be given G load test with absolutely safety maneuver by human centrifuge. © 1971, The Japanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine. All rights reserved.