Decompression sickness (
DCS; also known as
divers' disease,
the bends or
caisson disease) describes a condition arising from dissolved gases coming out of solution into bubbles inside the body on depressurisation. DCS most commonly refers to problems arising from underwater
diving decompression (i.e., during ascent), but may be experienced in other depressurisation events such as working in a
caisson, flying in
unpressurised aircraft, and
extra-vehicular activity from spacecraft.