MUSCULOSKELETAL COMPLAINTS OF HELICOPTER PILOTS STILL CONTINUE

摘要

Ever lasting vertebral column complaints of helicopter pilots still continues in spite of technological developments. Skorsky's, Cobra's and Cougar's are extremely efficient for military tasks, but their pilots have still complaints. In this study, first a questionnaire study is done in order to gain an insight into the present situation of the pilots. 51 % of Turkish army helicopter pilots have claimed that they had pain in their low back region. 36 % of the pilots had troubles in their neck and shoulders. 1-5 years of flight seemed to be sufficient for these complaints. The upper extremity complaints increased in case of flights that need high concentration. None of the complaints were sudden. The complaints started after a 2 hours of flight and continued at least one hour. Night vision goggles seemed to be responsible for the neck complaints. Out of 124 pilots, only 24 % had no complaints. The second stage of the study is comprised of biochemical and hematological tests of the blood samples taken from 12 helicopter pilots before and after their flights (average speed ≈ 90 knots, average height ≈ 3000 ft, average wind speed ≈ 15 knots and flight period = 95 minutes). A part from an increase in white blood cell, WBC, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ESR, no significant change was observed in the hematological (i.e., hematocrit, hemoglobin) and biochemical (i.e., CPK, lactic acid, cortisole) parameters.