Neck and waist diseases among 9126 aircrews:an epidemiological investigation and analysis
WANG Tianhua
GENG Yan
ZHANG Liyun
YANG Xinyuan
YUAN Hui
LI Shuhan
REN Congmian
WANG Yongchun
Abstract：Objective To study the incidence of neck and waist diseases among military aircrews flying different types of aircraft and of different ages so as to provide a reference for the precise prevention and treatment of neck and waist diseases among aircrews.Methods By retrospectively analyzing the clinical data of 9 126 aircrews in Lintong Rehabilitation and Convalescent Center,according to different aircraft types,the aircraft(bombers and ptransport aircraft)group consisted of 2 593 aircrews,the aircraft(fighters)group consisted of 1 851 aircrews,and the aircraft(helicopters)group consisted of 4 682 aircrews,the prevalence of neck and waist diseases among these aircrews and the relationships with aircraft types and age of aircrews were studied.Results The incidence rates of neck,waist and concurrent neck and waist diseases in 9 126 aircrews were 6.99％(638/9 126),12.92％(1 179/9 126)and 2.55％(233/9 126)respectively.The top three neck diseases were neck muscle strain(276/9 126),accounting for 3.02％,cervical spondylosis(203/9 126),accounting for 2.22％,and cervical disc herniation(154/9 126),accounting for 1.69％.The top three waist diseases were lumbar disc herniation(647/9 126),accounting for 7.09％,lumbar muscle strain(441/9 126),accounting for 4.83％,and lumbar spondylolysis(42/9 126),accounting for 0.46％.In the aircraft(bombers and ptransport aircraft)groups,the prevalence of neck disease in the group of aircrews ages 30 and younger was lower than in the group ages 41 to 50(P＜0.05),and waist disease was not so prevalent in the group ages 30 and younge as in the other three age groups(all P＜0.05).In the aircraft(fighters)groups,the incidence of neck disease in the group aged 30 and younger was lower than in the other three age groups(all P＜0.05),and that of waist disease in the group ages 30 and younger was lower than in the group between the ages of 41 and 50(P＜0.05).The incidence of neck and waist disease in the group ages 30 and younger was lower than in the groups ages 31 to 40 and 41 to 50(both P＜0.05).In the aircraft(helicopters)group,the prevalence of neck,waist,and concurrent neck and waist diseases in aircrews aged 30 and younger was lower than in the other age groups(all P＜0.05).Neck disease was more common in the aircraft(fighters)group than in the aircraft(bombers and ptransport aircraft)groupand aircraft(helicopters)group(both P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of waist disease between aircrews of different aircraft types(all P＞0.05).The incidence of neck and waist disease in the aircraft(fighters)group was higher than that in the aircraft(bombers and ptransport aircraft)group and the aircraft(helicopters)group(both P＜0.05).Conclusion The incidence of neck,waist and concurrent neck and waist diseases in aircrews of the same type of aircraft in the group ages 30 and younger is lower than in the other age groups.After the age of 30,these diseases become more common with the increase of flight time.Aviation security personnel should take precautions according to age and types of aircraft and get treated as early as possible to keep their necks and waists healthy.
Keywords：PrevalenceNeck diseaseWaist diseaseAircrews
Publication Date：2025-10-25
Online Publishing Date：2025-11-26(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 456-460 )