Alagha Babak
Iranian Chiropractic Association, Tehran, Iran.
Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2015 Oct;86(10):907-10. doi: 10.3357/AMHP.4319.2015.
Acute and chronic spinal symptoms such as neck pain may limit flying performance significantly and disqualify the pilot from flight duty. Mechanical neck pain is very common among pilots because of their exposure to vibration, +GZ forces, helmet weight, poor neck posture during air combat maneuvers, previous neck injuries, and poor treatment plans for such injuries. Successful treatment of such injuries requires appropriate therapeutic procedures as well as an aeromedical assessment. The aim of this case study was to demonstrate the benefits of conservative procedures such as spinal manipulation and mobilization therapy (SMMT) and exercise therapy (ET) in treating chronic mechanical neck pain in an Iranian commercial helicopter pilot.
A 36-yr-old male patient presented to the clinic with moderate, intermittent nonradicular chronic neck pain and limited range of motion over a 2-yr period. The patient was treated with cervical and upper thoracic SMMT followed by home ET for 5 wk. After this period, the patient reported significant recovery and improvement in range of motion in his neck.
Mechanical neck pain is very common among helicopter pilots. Although Air Force and Navy waiver guides recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications as well as SMMT and ET, there are currently very few published studies that examine the benefits of manual and exercise therapy for treating mechanical neck pain in commercial and military pilots. Based on the results of this study, it seems that SMMT and ET may be a safe and effective in treatment of uncomplicated mechanical neck pain in helicopter pilots. Alagha B. Conservative management of mechanical neck pain in a helicopter pilot.
急性和慢性脊柱症状，如颈部疼痛，可能会严重限制飞行表现，并使飞行员失去飞行资格。机械性颈部疼痛在飞行员中非常常见，原因包括他们暴露于振动、+GZ力、头盔重量、空战机动时不良的颈部姿势、既往颈部损伤以及对此类损伤的治疗方案不佳。成功治疗此类损伤需要适当的治疗程序以及航空医学评估。本病例研究的目的是证明保守治疗程序，如脊柱推拿和松动疗法（SMMT）以及运动疗法（ET）在治疗一名伊朗商用直升机飞行员慢性机械性颈部疼痛中的益处。
一名36岁男性患者在两年期间因中度、间歇性非根性慢性颈部疼痛和活动范围受限前来就诊。患者接受了颈椎和上胸椎的SMMT治疗，随后在家中进行ET治疗5周。在此期间后，患者报告颈部活动范围有显著恢复和改善。
机械性颈部疼痛在直升机飞行员中非常常见。尽管空军和海军的豁免指南推荐使用非甾体抗炎药以及SMMT和ET，但目前很少有已发表的研究探讨手法治疗和运动疗法对治疗商用和军事飞行员机械性颈部疼痛的益处。基于本研究结果，SMMT和ET似乎可能是治疗直升机飞行员单纯性机械性颈部疼痛的安全有效方法。阿拉加B. 一名直升机飞行员机械性颈部疼痛的保守治疗。
