Defining Normal Cervical Spine Range of Motion in Rotary-Wing Pilots (Part 1): A Method of Estimating AH-64 Aviator Cervical Spine Range of Motion Using Head Position Data from the Maintenance Data Recorder
Abstract
Neck pain is an established flight safety issue for military rotary-wing aviators. Military flight surgeons tasked with making determinations regarding an aviators flight fitness based on cervical spine range of motion (CROM) do not have adequate guidance to make an informed decision as there is currently no regulation defining what range of motion is adequate during flight operations. Describing the real-world CROM during flight would inform flight surgeons and provide a more useful and substantial reference than the normal physiological limits that flight surgeons currently employ. This report describes the process of analyzing head position data from the AH-64 maintenance data recorder (MDR) to estimate CROM requirements of pilots and co-pilots. The data show that pilots and co-pilots generally spent more time in mild and severe postures in night flights than day flights and a showed a lower frequency of neck twisting at night. A statistical analysis of the data revealed a significant difference between estimated neck posture for pilots and co-pilots, as well as between day and night flight operations (p < 0.05).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 27, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1170617
Entities
People
- Adrienne M. Madison
- Spencer T. Williams
- Valeta C. Chancey
Organizations
- United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab