The Effects of Helicopter Vibration on the Spinal System
Abstract
The UH-1H specific seating environment was studied in both static and vibration modes to assess its contribution to the production of backache in pilots. Subjective measures of pain and objective measures of lumbar muscle fatigue were used to determine a subject's response to a 2-hour exposure to the UH-1H seated posture. Another outcome measure was the change in the characteristic motion of the back surface as a result of exposure to 2 hours of typical UH-1H vertical vibration. Subjects were also tested for their mechanical response to each of three axes of vibration. Major findings included: 1) a marginally significant level of lumbar muscle fatigue due to a statically held posture in men; 2) in men there was a marginal significantly greater lumbar musculature fatigue due to a sustained static posture than that found due to sitting and vibrating un and down; 3) all subjects (male and female) indicated significant increase in pain due to sustained sitting in either static or vibrating UH-1H cockpit conditions; 4) the males exhibited significantly greater pain due to a sustained static seated posture than due to the same posture held while being vibrated either side to side or up and down; and 5) there were significant changes in the way the surface of the back moved during up and down vibration as a result of exposure to the UH-1H, vertically vibrated seated posture. Keywords: Helicopter pilot seats; Flight crew posture; Low back pain; Lumbar spine; Muscle fatigue; Electromyography; Power spectrum; Mechanical properties; Surface motion.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA181434
Entities
People
- David G. Wilder
- Dennis D. Donnermeyer
- Malcolm H. Pope
- Richard E. Seroussi
Organizations
- University of Vermont