Nagai Takashi, Abt John P, Sell Timothy C, Clark Nicholas C, Smalley Brian W, Wirt Michael D, Lephart Scott M
Aviat Space Environ Med. 2014 May;85(5):529-35. doi: 10.3357/asem.3874.2014.
Neck pain (NP) is common among military helicopter pilots. Older age and more flight-hours have been associated with pilots with a history of NP. However, modifiable neuromuscular and musculoskeletal characteristics such as neck proprioception, strength, flexibility, and posture have rarely been investigated in military helicopter pilots with a history of NP. The purpose of the study was to compare demographics, flight characteristics, physical fitness information, neck proprioception, strength, flexibility, and posture between helicopter pilots with and without a history of NP.
A total of 27 Army helicopter pilots with NP in the past 12 mo (pain group) were matched based on age with pilots without a history of NP (nonpain group). All pilots had flown at least 100 h in the past 12 mo and were cleared for flight and physical training. All pilots completed a battery of laboratory testing: neck proprioception, neck and scapular muscular strength, neck active range-of-motion (ROM), forward head and shoulder posture, and pectoralis minor length. Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon tests were used to compare differences between groups.
The pain group had significantly less cervical extension (63.7 +/- 8.5 degrees) and rotation ROM (R rotation: 67.7 +/- 8.8 degrees; L rotation: 67.4 +/- 9.0 degrees) when compared to the nonpain group (extension: 68.3 +/- 7.4 degrees; R rotation: 73.4 +/- 7.4 degrees; L rotation: 72.9 +/- 6.8 degrees). No significant differences were found for other variables.
The results demonstrate less neck active ROM in pilots with a history of NP. Operating a helicopter with limited neck ROM or NP may negatively impact flight safety and force readiness. Continued research is warranted.
颈部疼痛（NP）在军事直升机飞行员中很常见。年龄较大和飞行时间较长与有颈部疼痛病史的飞行员有关。然而，在有颈部疼痛病史的军事直升机飞行员中，很少有人研究可改变的神经肌肉和肌肉骨骼特征，如颈部本体感觉、力量、灵活性和姿势。本研究的目的是比较有和没有颈部疼痛病史的直升机飞行员在人口统计学、飞行特征、身体素质信息、颈部本体感觉、力量、灵活性和姿势方面的差异。
共有27名在过去12个月内有颈部疼痛的陆军直升机飞行员（疼痛组）与没有颈部疼痛病史的飞行员（非疼痛组）按年龄进行匹配。所有飞行员在过去12个月内至少飞行了100小时，并且通过了飞行和体能训练的体检。所有飞行员都完成了一系列实验室测试：颈部本体感觉、颈部和肩胛部肌肉力量、颈部主动活动范围（ROM）、头部前倾和肩部姿势以及胸小肌长度。采用配对t检验或Wilcoxon检验来比较两组之间的差异。
与非疼痛组相比，疼痛组的颈椎伸展（63.7±8.5度）和旋转ROM（右旋转：67.7±8.8度；左旋转：67.4±9.0度）明显减少（伸展：68.3±7.4度；右旋转：73.4±7.4度；左旋转：72.9±6.8度）。其他变量未发现显著差异。
结果表明，有颈部疼痛病史的飞行员颈部主动活动范围较小。在颈部ROM受限或有颈部疼痛的情况下操作直升机可能会对飞行安全和部队战备状态产生负面影响。有必要继续进行研究。
