The Development of a Base Layer for a Sensorimotor Countermeasure Skinsuit: Garment Comfort and Mobility

Abstract

When an astronaut transitions out of the weightless environment of space (e.g., landing on Earth, Mars, or the Moon), they can experience balance and co-ordination issues due to sensorimotor dysfunction. This paper details the development of the base layer garment for a Sensorimotor Countermeasure Skinsuit (SMCS), and test ideas to improve comfort and mobility through considered patternmaking techniques. A Version 1 (V1) SMCS base layer was made-to-measure for one participant. The garment was assessed for comfort and mobility through a series of tests: sit and reach (S&R), active range-of-motion (ROM) joint angles, and timed up and go (TU&G), etc. The SMCS V1 caused a restriction to mobility, and scored high discomfort ratings, when compared to a baseline of loose gym clothing. A Version 2 (V2) SMCS base layer was developed with an objective of improving upon the discomfort and mobility ratings. The SMCS V2 base layer garment was assessed and was found to have improved discomfort ratings (= ‘Minor discomfort if worn all day’) when compared to the SMCS V1 (≥ ‘Too uncomfortable to wear all day’). The SMCS V2 base layer garment was found to have improved mobility during S&R tests and TU&G tests when compared to the results from SMCS V1. The SMCS V2 base layer garment was also found to have improved active ROM during shoulder extension, shoulder abduction, hip flexion, and knee flexion, when compared to the SMCS V1. However, active ROM decreased during hip-extension and hip-abduction.The results of this study can be used to advance the design of compression garments that are used within the sports and medical industries.