Abstract

CARBAYO HERENCIA, J.A. et al. Radiological alterations and spine mobility in Spanish fighter pilots. Sanid. Mil. [online]. 2011, vol.67, n.4, pp.361-366. ISSN 1887-8571.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1887-85712011000500005.

Background and Objectives: Back pain is suffered by most fighter pilots. The objectives of this study were evaluated in this population if there are early lesions of the spine and their mobility. Material and Methods: The participants were 30 fighter pilots and 16 soldiers as a comparison group (CG), no fighter pilots, stationed in the Air Base in Albacete, Spain. All 6 underwent X-rays (two in the cervical spine, two in the thoracic spine and two in the lumbosacral region). We calculated the prevalence ratio (PR) of the lesions assessed between the two groups was considered significant a P value ≤ 0.05. Results: Both the average age of fighter pilots (31.9 years [SD = 5.9]) as the CG (32.3 years [SD = 3.4]) and body mass index (24 , 4 kg/m² in fighter pilots compared to 24.4 [SD = 1.9] of the CG) were similar. We found significant differences between the two groups in the following variables: uncoartrosis (PR = 2.4, P = 0.02), apophyseal osteoarthritis (PR = 2.82, P = 0.02), osteophytes (PR = 4.26 P = 0.007), loss of vertebral body height (PR = 11.29, P = 0.008) in the cervical region, subchondral irregularity (PR = 2.82, P = 0.02) in the dorsal region. The mobility of the back (as measured by bending in different areas, extensions, rotations and lateralized) was lower in the fighter pilot. Conclusions: The fighter pilots of our study have a higher stiffness in the spine, as well as early radiological changes, mainly in the cervical region, compared with a similar CG.

Keywords : Fighter pilot; Back pain; Neck pain; Low back pain; Preventive medicine.

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