Skip to main content

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of all included helicopter pilots irrespective of training program. Values in median and Interquartile range (IQR)

From: Impact of exercise programs among helicopter pilots with transient LBP

 

All included n = 39

Male pilots n = 35

Per protocol1 n = 20

Sex

35 males (90%)

35 males (100%)

16 males (80%)

Age years

36 (33, 43)

37 (33, 44)

36.5 (34.3, 42.8)

Height cm

183 (176, 185)

183 (178, 187)

181.5 (173.8, 188.5)

Weight kg

85 (78, 93)

86 (78, 94)

85.5 (79.3, 94.8)

BMI

25.7 (24.3, 27.1)

25.7 (24.3, 27.1)

26.3 (24.6, 27.6)

VAS (0–10)

3 (2, 5)

3 (2, 5)

3 (2, 5.8)

ODI %

10 (6, 14)

10 (6, 14)

9 (6, 13.5)

EQ-5D (0–100)

79 (70, 88)

79 (70, 88)

79 (73.5, 90)

Flying experience

 Years

12 (8, 16)

12 (8, 17)

11 (8.3, 16.8)

 Flying hours

4000 (3400, 7000)

5000 (3500, 7000)

4400 (3330, 6760)

 Hours in “Large” helicopter

2900 (2100, 4800)

3200 (2100, 4800)

3150 (2100, 4800)

 Hours last year

600 (450, 700)

620 (460, 700)

600 (463, 700)

 SVG2

30 (28 males)

26 (males)

16 (12 males)

 BGO3

9 (males)

9 (males)

4 (males)

 S924

32

29

16

 AS332 L/L25

7

6

4

 EC2256

-

-

-

Muscular endurance in seconds

 Extension

47 (30, 78)

47 (30, 78)

59 (34, 83)

 Flexion

55 (38, 83)

55 (38, 83)

45 (34, 82)

 RSB7

32 (24, 46)

33 (25, 47)

31 (23, 44)

 LSB8

39 (20, 52)

40 (26, 52)

44 (31, 57)

 Total holding time

190 (140, 253)

196 (140, 253)

199 (142, 268)

Ultrasound in percent9

 Level L4–5

8.1 (5.2, 11.1)

8.3 (5.7, 11.1)

7.3 (5.1, 10.3)

 Level L5-S1

6.3 (2.1, 8.6)

6.6 (2.1, 8.6)

4.1 (2.1, 7.2)

 Right side L4–5 & L5-S1

5.9 (2.5, 9.5)

6.4 (3.3, 9.5)

4.5 (2.3, 9.1)

 Left side L4–5 & L5-S1

6.8 (3.7, 12.4)

6.8 (4.0, 12.4)

6.4 (3.7, 10.2)

 Both levels and sides

7.5 (3.7, 9.7)

7.7 (3.9, 9.7)

5.3 (3.6, 8.0)

  1. 1Per protocol: pilots performing ≥19 of scheduled 36 training sessions. 2SVG = Stavanger/Sola base. 3BGO = Bergen/Flesland base. 4Sikorsky helicopter type S92. 5Airbus (Eurocopter) Helicopter Super Puma type AS 332 L/L1/L2. 6Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma (Airbus Helicopters H225). 7RSB = Right Side Bridge. 8LSB = Left Side Bridge. 9Values given in %-change from relaxed to contracted muscle