title: Predicting neck pain in Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilots.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
authors.forename: Bennett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Netto
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hampson
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oppermann
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aisbett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000367:Age Factors; D000401:Aircraft; D000465:Algorithms; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors