Predicting Neck Pain in Royal Australian Air Force Fighter Pilots

Objective: Fighter pilots frequently report neck pain and injury, and although risk factors have been suggested, the relationships between risk factors and neck pain have not been quantified. The aim of this study was to identify personal and work behaviors that are significantly associated with nec...

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Main Authors: Tucker, B., Netto, Kevin, Hampson, G., Oppermann, B., Aisbett, B.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Association of Military Surgeons of the U S 2012
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/56884
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author Tucker, B.
Netto, Kevin
Hampson, G.
Oppermann, B.
Aisbett, B.
author_facet Tucker, B.
Netto, Kevin
Hampson, G.
Oppermann, B.
Aisbett, B.
author_sort Tucker, B.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Objective: Fighter pilots frequently report neck pain and injury, and although risk factors have been suggested, the relationships between risk factors and neck pain have not been quantified. The aim of this study was to identify personal and work behaviors that are significantly associated with neck pain in fighter pilots. Methods: Eighty– two Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilots were surveyed about their flying experience, neck pain prevalence, and prevention. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to fit models between pilots’ neck pain during and after flight and a range of personal and work characteristics. Results: In-flight neck pain was very weakly, yet positively associated with flight hours. Duration of postflight pain was positively associated with the weekly desktop work hours and the sum of preventative actions taken in flight. The duration pilots were considered temporarily medically unfit for flying was positively associated with pilots’ age and their weekly desktop work hours. Discussion: The risk factors identified by the current study should guide neck pain prevention for fighter pilots. In particular, reducing desktop working hours as well as incorporating specific neck-strengthening exercises and in-flight bracing actions should be considered by agencies to help alleviating neck pain in their pilots.
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publishDate 2012
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-568842018-02-08T08:00:28Z Predicting Neck Pain in Royal Australian Air Force Fighter Pilots Tucker, B. Netto, Kevin Hampson, G. Oppermann, B. Aisbett, B. Objective: Fighter pilots frequently report neck pain and injury, and although risk factors have been suggested, the relationships between risk factors and neck pain have not been quantified. The aim of this study was to identify personal and work behaviors that are significantly associated with neck pain in fighter pilots. Methods: Eighty– two Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilots were surveyed about their flying experience, neck pain prevalence, and prevention. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to fit models between pilots’ neck pain during and after flight and a range of personal and work characteristics. Results: In-flight neck pain was very weakly, yet positively associated with flight hours. Duration of postflight pain was positively associated with the weekly desktop work hours and the sum of preventative actions taken in flight. The duration pilots were considered temporarily medically unfit for flying was positively associated with pilots’ age and their weekly desktop work hours. Discussion: The risk factors identified by the current study should guide neck pain prevention for fighter pilots. In particular, reducing desktop working hours as well as incorporating specific neck-strengthening exercises and in-flight bracing actions should be considered by agencies to help alleviating neck pain in their pilots. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/56884 Association of Military Surgeons of the U S fulltext
spellingShingle Tucker, B.
Netto, Kevin
Hampson, G.
Oppermann, B.
Aisbett, B.
Predicting Neck Pain in Royal Australian Air Force Fighter Pilots
title Predicting Neck Pain in Royal Australian Air Force Fighter Pilots
title_full Predicting Neck Pain in Royal Australian Air Force Fighter Pilots
title_fullStr Predicting Neck Pain in Royal Australian Air Force Fighter Pilots
title_full_unstemmed Predicting Neck Pain in Royal Australian Air Force Fighter Pilots
title_short Predicting Neck Pain in Royal Australian Air Force Fighter Pilots
title_sort predicting neck pain in royal australian air force fighter pilots
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/56884