Abstract des Autors

In this paper heart rate was monitored in hang gliding pilots in order to investigate arousal modification in "high risk" sports, that is potentially dangerous. In hang gliding, the pilot is subject to a wide range of "stressors" either from the environment or as a feedback of flight behaviour. In this study 39 male adult subjects were involved, divided into two groups based on flight-time experience, taking heart rate as an indirect stress level marker. Flight time was fractioned in three phases: take off, flight and landing and recognising the first and last as critical. Authors find a remarkable variability of HR trend with constant and characteristic frequency peaks in critical phases. Measurements were performed for a one minute period in every phase and taking mean values. Although the HR maximum value was high in all cases, the analysis of variance evidences significant differences between experts (168+/-15 bpm) and non experts (184+/-15 bpm) during flight. Applying multivariated analysis of variance, 2 (classes of subject) 3 (phases of flight) with repeated measurements on the second factor there is further evidence that expert pilots exhibit lower HR values than non experts. These results show the moderator effect of experience on arousal for hang gliding; experts are probably capable of facing potentially dangerous and stressful situations with more proficiency and confidence than less experienced pilots. Verf.-Referat