Does Lifting Weight's raise your G-force tolerance????

JA Yawd Bwoy · January 24th, 2008, 17:52

I don't know if it is just a rumor or if it is real but I hear that in the military they practice bodybuilding to help reduce G-force impact on their pilots. Is this true? How does lifting weights reduce it specifically? I want to know because I feel that if I start lifting weights (which I have this past monday) that the g-forces that I usually feel on takeoff and certain decent angles will go away.

Thanks in advance

aloft · January 24th, 2008, 18:47

Increased muscle mass can improve g-tolerance, but as to the forces "going away" simply because you lift weights, no. Improved g-tolerance is really only of value to fighter pilots who encounter high g-force loads. The g-forces encountered by everyone else are neglible.

frog_flyer · January 24th, 2008, 19:03

I suppose having more leg mass could possibly aid you in being able to more effectively squeeze blood back up in to your upper body, but I'd have to let the Doc answer that.

As for the general fitness, you must maintain a high level of fitness to prevent injuries. I've talked to several fighter pilots that have had serious back injuries and said it happened because they "got lazy and didn't work out enough."

Those G forces you feel in your Skyhawk are negligible.

ScottG · January 24th, 2008, 19:29

I could see muscle creating a sort of "fuel cell" or sponge type situation similar in many gas tanks that slows the draining of blood from one area to another and in turn allowing higher g loads.....pure speculation.

My Flight Surgeon · January 24th, 2008, 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by MathA340

I don't know if it is just a rumor or if it is real but I hear that in the military they practice bodybuilding to help reduce G-force impact on their pilots. Is this true? How does lifting weights reduce it specifically? I want to know because I feel that if I start lifting weights (which I have this past monday) that the g-forces that I usually feel on takeoff and certain decent angles will go away.

Thanks in advance

It is all rumor. There are no articles that I can find to substantiate the hypothesis.

clcl · January 25th, 2008, 10:52

From my personel experiance, basically everyone has their own G limits, some are more some are less. I've found that the more oxygen you have in your blood the longer you can avoid a grey out. However, being in really good shape will allow you to pull Gs for longer periods of time without getting as exhausted.

January 24th, 2008, 17:52	#1
JA Yawd Bwoy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Woodbridge, NJ Posts: 1,421	Does Lifting Weight's raise your G-force tolerance???? I don't know if it is just a rumor or if it is real but I hear that in the military they practice bodybuilding to help reduce G-force impact on their pilots. Is this true? How does lifting weights reduce it specifically? I want to know because I feel that if I start lifting weights (which I have this past monday) that the g-forces that I usually feel on takeoff and certain decent angles will go away. Thanks in advance

January 24th, 2008, 18:47	#2
aloft Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Inside your OODA loop Posts: 6,812	Re: Does Lifting Weight's raise your G-force tolerance???? Increased muscle mass can improve g-tolerance, but as to the forces "going away" simply because you lift weights, no. Improved g-tolerance is really only of value to fighter pilots who encounter high g-force loads. The g-forces encountered by everyone else are neglible. __________________ Commercial Pilot, ASEL/AMEL/IA 900+ TT/25 ME Mountain-qualified Search & Rescue/Disaster Relief Mission Pilot, Civil Air Patrol B.S., Psychology, Univ of Utah

January 24th, 2008, 19:03	#3
frog_flyer Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: FTW Posts: 3,988 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Does Lifting Weight's raise your G-force tolerance???? I suppose having more leg mass could possibly aid you in being able to more effectively squeeze blood back up in to your upper body, but I'd have to let the Doc answer that. As for the general fitness, you must maintain a high level of fitness to prevent injuries. I've talked to several fighter pilots that have had serious back injuries and said it happened because they "got lazy and didn't work out enough." Those G forces you feel in your Skyhawk are negligible. __________________ "There needs to be more drinking here on JC. We need more ******* partying!" -Doug Taylor 210TT 20 ME

January 24th, 2008, 19:29	#4
ScottG Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 245	Re: Does Lifting Weight's raise your G-force tolerance???? I could see muscle creating a sort of "fuel cell" or sponge type situation similar in many gas tanks that slows the draining of blood from one area to another and in turn allowing higher g loads.....pure speculation.

January 25th, 2008, 10:52	#6
clcl Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 22	Re: Does Lifting Weight's raise your G-force tolerance???? From my personel experiance, basically everyone has their own G limits, some are more some are less. I've found that the more oxygen you have in your blood the longer you can avoid a grey out. However, being in really good shape will allow you to pull Gs for longer periods of time without getting as exhausted.

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