Lange Britt, Torp-Svendsen Jørgen, Toft Palle
Air Tactical Command, Karup, Denmark.
Aviat Space Environ Med. 2011 May;82(5):559-63. doi: 10.3357/asem.2935.2011.
Neck pain is a common complaint among fighter pilots. With implementation of the joint helmet mounted cuing system (JHMCS), the strain on the pilot's neck has increased.
We surveyed 58 F-16 pilots from the Royal Danish Air Force by anonymous questionnaires. More than half of these pilots used JHMCS regularly.
The response rate was 100%. Of the pilots, 97% experienced neck pain in flight or shortly after flying, 83% within the last year. Right side neck pain was significantly more frequent than left side, odds ratio 3.25. There was a strong tendency toward predominant right-sided shoulder pain. The pilots reported that combined rotation and extension movements were especially hazardous. Only 1 in 10 pilots moved his head independent of G-load. Neck pain influenced operational flying, especially the ability to perform a "check six" movement sufficiently, and affected flying with high G loads as occurs in basic fighter maneuvers and air combat maneuvering.
To avoid neck problems the majority of pilots aim to avoid certain head movements and to fix their neck before exposing themselves to high +Gz loads. With the implementation of JHMCS, two conflicting goals are evident and working at cross-purposes. A pilot's head should remain stationary while exposed to high +Gz loads. However, maximizing the advantages of JHMCS encourages the pilot to move his head sharply while exposed to high +Gz loads. Training programs to help the pilots cope with these challenges are warranted.
颈部疼痛是战斗机飞行员中常见的主诉。随着联合头盔瞄准系统（JHMCS）的应用，飞行员颈部的压力增加了。
我们通过匿名问卷对58名丹麦皇家空军的F-16飞行员进行了调查。这些飞行员中有一半以上经常使用JHMCS。
回复率为100%。在飞行员中，97%在飞行中或飞行后不久经历过颈部疼痛，83%在过去一年中经历过。右侧颈部疼痛明显比左侧更频繁，优势比为3.25。右侧肩部疼痛占主导的趋势很强。飞行员报告说，旋转和伸展动作相结合尤其危险。每10名飞行员中只有1人在不考虑G值负荷的情况下移动头部。颈部疼痛影响作战飞行，特别是充分执行“检查六点钟方向”动作的能力，并影响在基本战斗机机动和空战机动中出现的高G值负荷飞行。
为避免颈部问题，大多数飞行员旨在避免某些头部动作，并在承受高+Gz负荷之前固定颈部。随着JHMCS的应用，两个相互冲突的目标显而易见且相互矛盾。飞行员在承受高+Gz负荷时头部应保持静止。然而，最大限度地发挥JHMCS的优势会鼓励飞行员在承受高+Gz负荷时剧烈移动头部。有必要开展培训项目来帮助飞行员应对这些挑战。
