Prevention of minor neck injuries in F-16 pilots

F-16 pilots have a high incidence of minor neck injuries. It was hypothesized that pilots who did neck strengthening exercises and pilots who used other preventive strategies would have fewer injuries.

We surveyed 268 U.S. Air Force F-16 pilots. Subjects were divided into two groups. Group I, the Early Intervention Group, performed an intervention, or not, from the start of their F-16 careers. Outcomes were measured as a percent of pilots reporting an injury during their F-16 careers. Group II, the Midstream Intervention Group, initiated an intervention after sustaining an injury. Injuries before and after the intervention were compared as a median injury rate per 100 h F-16 time.

The 1 -yr prevalence of neck injury was 56.6% and for an F-16 career was 85.4%. For every 100 h in the F-16, the risk of injury increased by 6.9%. Only 26.9% of the pilots routinely did neck strengthening exercises. For the Early Intervention Group, fewer injuries were associated with neck strengthening exercises and placing the head against the seat prior to loading +Gz. For the Midstream Intervention Group, a lower median injury rate was associated with neck strengthening exercises, placing the head against the seat prior to loading, warming up with stretching or isometrics, prepositioning the head prior to loading, and unloading prior to moving the head. Interventions not associated with fewer injuries included body exercises and placing the head against the canopy.

Certain strategies may prevent neck injuries. Prospective research is needed to confirm these results.