Musculoskeletal Discomfort in Brazilian Air Force Combat Pilots

Abstract

There are many occupational risks inherent to aviation that may be associated with the development of musculoskeletal discomfort and injuries. The pilot's activity in the cockpit is complex, with the execution of simultaneous tasks, so they are exposed to physical risks and in addition to this the specific demands inherent to military operational aviation. Objectives: To describe the occurrence of musculoskeletal discomfort in military transport pilots of the Brazilian Air Force and its possible associations with biometric parameters, flight hours and frequency of physical activity. Method: This is a descriptive observational study, with a sample made up of military transport aircraft pilots. Self-completion questionnaires were used as instruments to characterize occupational history, physical activity profile and history of physical discomfort. Results: A total of 26 pilots were included in the study. The frequency of physical activity averaged 4.3 ± 1.59 times per week, 46.15% of the subjects were classified as very active. In the assessment of discomfort, the most frequent body segments were: lower back with 73.1%, followed by the cervical with 42.2% and neck with 34.6% of the results. Conclusion: The discomforts of cervical and lumbar spine, were those with the highest occurrence observed in the analyzed population, with pain intensity varying from mild to intense discomfort. Although the sample was characterized as young and active in terms of physical activity, the presence of discomfort was present.