Low Back Pain in Commercial Airline Pilots
In their working life, airline pilots are exposed to particular risk factors that promote nonspecific low back pain (LBP). Because of the varying incidence internationally, the authors evaluated the point prevalences of acute, subacute, and chronic nonspecific LBP, as well as the current prevalences in German airline pilots. Furthermore, the authors compared the prevalence to the general German population and to European counterparts. An anonymous online survey of 698 participating German airline pilots was evaluated. The impairment between groups was analyzed. Prevalences from the data were compared to existing data. The following point prevalences were found: 8.2% acute, 2.4% subacute, 82.7% chronic LBP; 74.1% of all individuals were suffering from current LBP when answered the questionnaire. A total time spent flying greater than 600 h within the last 12 mo was significantly related to acute nonspecific LBP. Individuals with any type of LBP were significantly impaired compared to those unaffected. It was found that German airline pilots suffer more often from current LBP than the general population and have a higher point prevalence of total LBP than their European counterparts. The evaluation showed a surprisingly high, previously unidentified, prevalence of nonspecific LBP in German airline pilots. Why German airline pilots suffer more often from LBP remains uncertain. The number of flying hours appears to have a negative effect on developing acute low back pain, but causation cannot be concluded. Other risk factors could not be confirmed.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/23756314
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Supplemental Notes:
- Abstract reprinted with permission of the Aerospace Medical Association.
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Authors:
- Albermann, Matthias
- Lehmann, Maria
- Eiche, Christian
- Schmidt, Joachim
- Prottengeier, Johannes
- Publication Date: 2020-12
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Print
- Features: References;
- Pagination: pp 940-947
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Serial:
- Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance
- Volume: 91
- Issue Number: 12
- Publisher: Aerospace Medical Association
- ISSN: 2375-6314
- EISSN: 2375-6322
- Serial URL: http://ingentaconnect.com/content/asma/asem
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Airline pilots; Muscles; Occupational safety; Physical disabilities; Physiology; Travel time; Workplaces
- Geographic Terms: Germany
- Subject Areas: Aviation; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01759994
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Nov 30 2020 11:32AM