Affiliation:
1. Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN, NAS Jacksonville , Jacksonville, FL 32212-5000, USA
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Musculoskeletal pain can be a significant safety risk to aircrew. Flight surgeons are the primary care providers for aircrew and are responsible for safely treating musculoskeletal pain. Certain medical interventions can be used to treat pain while maintaining the ability to fly safely. A previous F-18 Naval Flight Officer presented to the flight surgeon with chronic neck pain seeking noninvasive and nonpharmacological therapy. After one Osteopathic Manual Treatment session using the Fascial Distortion Model (FDM), the patient had improved pain and function. The aircrewman reported an 83% reduction in pain and a 200% improvement in cervical Range of Motion (ROM) immediately following treatment. Neck pain is a common complaint in aircrew. This pain can become an in-flight distraction, thus increasing the risk of aviation mishaps. FDM can decrease pain and increase ROM quickly, without equipment or a large amount of space and without the use of medications that may prohibit an aircrew member from flying. This case study shows the ability to treat a uniformed aircrewman with neck pain while onboard an aircraft. FDM is a technique that can be taught to all flight surgeons. Teaching future flight surgeons FDM techniques can improve the U.S. Navy’s resources by decreasing time away from work along with decreasing medical costs. The use of osteopathic manipulation treatment significantly reduced an aircrewman’s pain and increased ROM with one treatment while maintaining flight status per current aeromedical waiver guidelines.
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,General Medicine
Reference29 articles.
1. The epidemiology of neck pain;Hoy;Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol,2010
2. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of neck pain;Cohen;Mayo Clin Proc,2015
3. Aircrew neck pain prevention and management;North Atlantic Treaty Organization
4. Neck muscle strain in air force pilots wearing night vision goggles;Pousette;Aerosp Med Hum Perform,2016
5. Back symptoms in aviators flying different aircraft;Grossman;Aviat Space Environ Med,2012