TY - JOUR
T1 - Low back pain in the AH-1 Cobra helicopter
AU - Froom, P.
AU - Hanegbi, R.
AU - Ribak, J.
AU - Gross, M.
PY - 1987
Y1 - 1987
N2 - Pilots of the AH-1S helicopter maintain a vertical sitting position in the gunner's position (front seat), whereas in the pilot's seat (rear), they lean forward and to the left in order to operate the controls. A cross over study with pilots flying alternatively in the front and rear positions was used to assess the effect of crew position on the prevalence of low back pain during flight. In the pilot's seat, there was an increased prevalence of pain (72.2%, 13/18 versus 55.6%, 10/18); the onset of pain was quicker than experienced in the gunner's position (64.3%, 9/14 versus 7.1%, 1/14, p<0.001); and the intensity was greater (85.7%, 12/14 versus 7.1%, 1/14, p<0.001). We conclude that posture is an important component of the low back pain experienced by helicopter pilots during flight.
AB - Pilots of the AH-1S helicopter maintain a vertical sitting position in the gunner's position (front seat), whereas in the pilot's seat (rear), they lean forward and to the left in order to operate the controls. A cross over study with pilots flying alternatively in the front and rear positions was used to assess the effect of crew position on the prevalence of low back pain during flight. In the pilot's seat, there was an increased prevalence of pain (72.2%, 13/18 versus 55.6%, 10/18); the onset of pain was quicker than experienced in the gunner's position (64.3%, 9/14 versus 7.1%, 1/14, p<0.001); and the intensity was greater (85.7%, 12/14 versus 7.1%, 1/14, p<0.001). We conclude that posture is an important component of the low back pain experienced by helicopter pilots during flight.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0023101549&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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AN - SCOPUS:0023101549
SN - 0095-6562
VL - 58
SP - 315
EP - 318
JO - Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine
JF - Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine
IS - 4
ER -