The swing test was used to evaluate persons for motion sickness prior to and during the Second World War. Hemingway used a grading scale to describe the severity of the motion sickness.
Parameters:
(1) occurrence of vomiting
(2) other symptoms (nausea, pallor and/or sweating)
Vomiting |
Other Findings |
Grade |
within the first 5 minutes |
NA |
1 |
> 5 and <= 8 minutes |
NA |
2 |
> 8 and <= 11 minutes |
NA |
3 |
> 11 and <= 14 minutes |
NA |
4 |
> 14 and <= 17 minutes |
NA |
5 |
> 17 and <= 20 minutes |
NA |
6 |
none |
marked pallor, nausea and/or sweating |
7 |
none |
pallor, nausea and/or sweating |
8 |
none |
slight pallor and/or mild nausea |
9 |
none |
none |
10 |
Limitations of the swing test:
• The swing test was neither sensitive nor specific. Some persons who failed the test completed testing, while some of those who passed were unable to complete training.
Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care