JIA Wei, HAN Feizhou, CHEN Songhua, ZHANG Wangyuan
Objective Investigate the situation of neck and back pain in flight pilots and cadets, analyze the relevant risk factors, and provide reference for the early and targeted prevention and treatment of neck and back pain in flight pilots and cadets. Methods A questionnaire was used to investigate the incidence of neck and low back pain among pilots, the questionnaire included basic information, military training, physical training, and neck and back pain. 272 flight personnel divided into the instructor group and cadet group. Both groups were re-divided into a group with neck and low back pain and one without. Univariate analysis was conducted to identify risk factors for neck and low back pain. Results Among the 272 pilots, 75(27.6%)suffered from neck and low back pain, including 15 cadets(9.3%)and 60 instructors(54.5%), so the difference was statistically significant(χ2=67.279, P<0.001). Forty-one pilots were afflicted with chronic neck and low back pain(15.1%), including 4 cadets(2.5%)and 37 instructors(33.6%), and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=49.714, P<0.001). The difference in the incidence of neck and back pain between pilots of different age groups, BMI, and flight time was statistically significant(χ2=64.022, 23.585, 73.262, all P<0.001). The incidence among pilots ages 31 and older, with a BMI of above 24 kg/m2and a flight time over 1 000 h was higher than among those ages 30 and younger, whose BMI was below 24 kg/m2 and flight time was 1 000 h or less(all P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in military training, physical training, and neck and back pain among flight trainees and instructors with or without neck and back pain in each group(all P<0.05). The risk factors for neck and low back pain among pilots included a cumulative flight time of over 1 000~2 000 h(OR=14.191, 95%CI: 4.213~47.802, P<0.001)and 2 000 h(OR=18.412, 95%CI: 6.850~49.492, P<0.001), invasive treatment(OR=13.835, 95%CI: 2.264~84.549, P=0.004), poor posture(OR=3.937, 95%CI: 1.649~9.398, P=0.002)and improper methods of exercise(OR=2.735, 95%CI: 1.096~6.824, P=0.002). The risk factors in the instructor group included a flight time of over 1 000~2 000 h(OR=115.580, 95%CI: 3.164~4 221.890, P=0.010)and 2 000 h(OR=197.790, 95%CI: 5.226~7 486.187, P=0.004), lack of guidance for prevention and treatment of neck and low back pain(OR=20.010, 95%CI: 3.932~101.836, P<0.001), poor posture at ordinary times(OR=4.586, 95%CI: 1.232~17.075, P=0.023)and too long a single flight(OR=5.346, 95%CI: 1.347~21.212, P=0.017). Conclusion The prevention and treatment of neck and low back pain require attention to both flight related factors and non-flight factors so as to effectively reduce the prevalence of neck and low back pain among flight personnel.