Defining Normal Cervical Spine Range of Motion In Rotary-Wing Pilots (Part 2): A Method of Estimating UH-60 Aviator Cervical Spine Range of Motion Using Head Position Data from an Optical-Based Inertial Tracker
Abstract
A human subject research protocol was performed by the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) to evaluate UH-60 aviator cervical spine range of motion (CROM) in controlled real and simulated flight environments. Nine subjects performed one-hour flight missions in a UH-60 aircraft, and the same mission was performed in the USAARL NUH-60 flight simulator at least two days after the initial flight. Subjects were equipped with a head tracker clipped on the night vision goggle mount of their flight helmet to capture head angles in each plane of motion. Flight parameters and instructed maneuvers were the same between both flights. The data showed that actual and simulated flight were biomechanically equivalent in regards to specific flight maneuvers, but neck twisting was statistically different when analyzing cumulative neck posture over the entire flight. The data also revealed that the general population norms for CROM statistically exceed the requirements of UH-60 aviators engaged in routine flight.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 27, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1170623
Entities
People
- Adrienne M. Madison
- Spencer T. Williams
- Valeta C. Chancey
Organizations
- United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab