Journal Article

Psychophysiological responses to a multimodal physiotherapy program in fighter pilots with flight-related neck pain: A pilot trial

Fernández-Morales, Carlos, Cardero-Durán, María de los Ángeles, Moreno-Vázquez, Juan Manuel, Espejo-Antúnez, Luis, Falla, Deborah, Albornoz-Cabello, Manuel

2024

Overview

The physical and cognitive demands of combat flying may influence the development and persistence of flight-related neck pain (FRNP). The aim of this pilot study was to analyse the effect of a multimodal physiotherapy program which combined supervised exercise with laser-guided feedback and interferential current therapy on psychophysiological variables in fighter pilots with FRNP. Thirty-one fighter pilots were randomly assigned to two groups (Intervention Group: n = 14; Control Group: n = 17). The intervention consisted of 8 treatment sessions (twice per week) delivered over 4 weeks. The following primary outcomes were assessed: perceived pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale-NPRS) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV; time-domain, frequency-domain and non-linear variables). A number of secondary outcomes were also assessed: myoelectric activity of the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid, pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale-PCS) and kinesiophobia (TSK-11). Statistically significant differences (p≤0.05) within and between groups were observed for all outcomes except for frequency domain and non-linear HRV variables. A significant time*group effect (one-way ANOVA) in favour of the intervention group was found for all variables (p<0.001). Effect sizes were large (d≥0.6). The use of a multimodal physiotherapy program consisting of supervised exercise with laser-guided feedback and interferential current appears to show clinical benefit in fighter pilots with FRNP. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05541848.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Adult / Aircraft pilots / Biology and Life Sciences / Combined Modality Therapy / Computer and Information Sciences / Engineering and Technology / Exercise Therapy - methods / Feedback / Fighter pilots / Flight / Frequency domain analysis / Heart beat / Heart rate / Heart Rate - physiology / Humans / Intervention / Laser guidance / Lasers / Male / Manipulative therapy / Medical research / Medicine and Health Sciences / Military Personnel - psychology / Myoelectricity / Neck pain / Neck Pain - physiopathology / Neck Pain - psychology / Neck Pain - therapy / Nervous system / Pain / Pain Measurement / People and Places / Physical therapy / Physical Therapy Modalities / Physiology / Pilot Projects / Pilots / Pilots - psychology / Statistical analysis / Therapeutics, Physiological / Treatment Outcome / Variance analysis