ANALYSIS of INTERVERTEBRAL ANGULATIONS and MUSCULOSKELETAL SYMPTOMS of the SPINE in the MILITARY AIRCREWS of TAIWAN

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of neck and low back discomfort and its association with intervertebral angulations of cervical and lumbar during neutral and flexion among aircrews. Methods: There were 283 subjects participating in this survey. All participants finished one questionnaire each regarding complaints about musculoskeletal symptoms, and three sagittal plane radiographs. The measurements of intervertebral angulations were completed using the Cobb method for lumbar spine and the Harrison posterior tangent method for the cervical spine. Results: In the questionnaire, 26.5% subjects self-reported neck discomfort and 33.2% subjects self-reported low back discomfort. Based on categorization by self-reported complaints, there was significant decrease in two intervertebral flexion angles of the Discomfort group than those of the Regular group, including C3/C4 and C2/C7. Based on categorization by radiological diagnoses, the abnormal group revealed significant decreases in the regular range of motion from neutral to flexion at C3/C4 segment. Lordotic angles between L1 and L5 were also found to be significantly different between the Discomfort group and the Regular group. Conclusions: A high prevalence of neck and low back discomfort among the aircrews is revealed and needs more suitable intervention. A certain level of association between spinal discomfort and the intervertebral angulations of the lumbar spine and the cervical spine in aircrews was found when compared to the normal group.