Repulsion Failure

Repulsion failure is a condition found in Variant 2 Humanoids. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Variant 2s will experience repulsion failure at some point in their life.

Signs and Symptoms
Repulsion failure occurs after the individual has reached their adult repulsion. Early symptoms include slow decrease of maximum repulsion, fatigue, and dizziness. In later stages, the subject loses all repulsion and cannot hover off the ground and begins to have muscle spasms. Subjects may also lose hearing in later stages.

Prognosis
Repulsion failure has a 60% survival rate in patients under 65, and a 30% survival rate for patients over 65. 80% of patients over 65 who survive the illness will permanently lose their repulsion, compared to 25% of those under 65. 70% of patients under 65 who survive the illness and retain their repulsion will have a lower average repulsion than they did prior to the illness, compared to 90% of patients over 65.

Treatment
The most effective treatment for repulsion failure is gravitational therapy, which consists of many gravitational exercises similar to those done by early astronauts to get used to space travel. This treatment, if successful, wil rebalance repulsion fluid within the subject. Other treatments include medication such as the Bachman-Turner pill (not to be confused with the band Bachman-Turner Overdrive) which restores a healthy bone density to the subject.

Age
Repulsion failure becomes more common with age, as bone density may decrease or increase, which affects repulsion. Aging patients may also have defective repulsion fluid, due to issues with repulsion glands.

Genetics
Some Variant 2s are genetically predisposed to experiencing repulsion failure. Genetic predisposition is the cause of 85% of cases with patients under the age of 50.

Idiopathy
Around 2% of all cases are idiopathic in nature.

Pre-existing conditions
Conditions such as osteopenia or certain types of cancer can cause repulsion failure, especially in older patients.

Injury
Certain major injuries such as car accidents can cause repulsion failure, although it is the second least likely cause after idiopathy.

Prevention
Genetic modification in Variant 2 fetuses can prevent genetic predisposition to repulsion failure.