title: Recurrent and Transient Spinal Pain Among Commercial Helicopter Pilots.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to provide information on the occurrence of spinal pain, i.e., low back and neck pain, among commercial helicopter pilots, along with possible associations between pain and anthropometric and demographic factors and flying exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected through a subjective and retrospective survey among all the 313 (294 men, 19 women) full-time pilots employed by two helicopter companies. A questionnaire was used to assess the extent of spinal complaints in a transient and recurrent pain pattern along with information on physical activities, occupational flying experience, and airframes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey had 207 responders (194 men, 13 women). The pilots had extensive flying experience. Spinal pain was reported by 67%. Flying-related transient pain was reported among 50%, whereas recurrent spinal pain, not necessarily associated with flying, was reported by 52%. Women experienced more pain, but sample size prevented further conclusions. Male pilots reporting any spinal pain flew significantly more hours last year (median 500 h, IQR 400-650) versus men with no pain (median 445 h, IQR 300-550). Male pilots with transient or recurrent spinal pain did not differ from nonaffected male colleagues in the measured parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spinal pain is a frequent problem among male and female commercial helicopter pilots. For men, no significant associations were revealed for transient or recurrent spinal pain with age, flying experience in years, total hours, annual flying time, type of aircraft, or anthropometric factors except for any spinal pain related to hours flown in the last year.
authors.affiliation: The Norwegian Centre for Movement Disorders, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Roald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baardsen
authors.forename: Ingvild
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dalen
authors.forename: Jan Petter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Larsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000401:Aircraft; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies