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Table 4 Results of physical performance tests for fighter pilots (FP), helicopter pilots (HP) and rear crew (RC) (n = 73)

From: Cervico-thoracic pain and associated impairments in air force personnel: a cross-sectional study

 

FP

HP

RC

  

Movement control a

(n = 36)

 

(n = 18)

 

(n = 19)

 

p-value

 Neck flexion in sitting

  Controlled

53

 

33

 

42

 

0.381

  Uncontrolled

47

 

67

 

58

  

 Neck extension in sitting

  Controlled

42

 

28

 

21

 

0.262

  Uncontrolled

58

 

72

 

79

  

 Neck rotation left in sitting

  Controlled

58

 

61

 

26

 

0.046

  Uncontrolled

42

 

39

 

74

  

 Neck rotation right in sitting

  Controlled

50

 

39

 

26

 

0.231

  Uncontrolled

50

 

61

 

74

  

 Neck flexion in supine

  Controlled

26

 

12

 

8

 

0.083

  Uncontrolled

10

 

6

 

11

  

 Chest lift

  Controlled

56

 

56

 

53

 

0.828

  Uncontrolled

44

 

44

 

47

  

 Pelvic tilt

  Controlled

64

 

44

 

42

 

0.207

  Uncontrolled

36

 

56

 

58

  

 Forward lean

  Controlled

86d

 

78e

 

37d, e

 

0.000

 Uncontrolled

14

 

22

 

63

  

Range of motion (degrees) b

 Flexion

56.7

8.6

55.4

10.6

58.8

11.2

0.564

 Extension

68.8

11.7

63.0

11.5

63.7

13.1

0.113

 Rotation left

67.8

9.2

69.7

9.4

65.3

8.7

0.292

 Rotation right

63.9

7.7

62.0

7.9

59.3

7.9

0.089

 Lateral flexion left

40.2

7.5

38.4

5.0

34.7

7.6

0.027

 Lateral flexion right

40.3d, f

6.1

36.2f

5.1

33.4d

5.8

0.000

Isometric strength and endurance c

 Flexor (Nm)

28.6

10.2

24.9

6.3

24.4

8.7

0.026

 Extensor (Nm)

41.8

11.6

41.7

10.6

36.8

3.4

0.091

 Flexor (s)

54.0

19.0

50.0

26.0

58.0

21.0

0.688

 Extensor (s)

92.3

36.4

100.4

33.0

120.6

36.8

0.065

  1. a: Data for movement control is presented in percentages with the Chi-square test
  2. b: Data for range of motion is presented in mean (SD) with one-way ANOVA.
  3. c: Data for strength and endurance are presented in median (interquartile range) with Kruskal-Wallis test. P-values in bold represent significant difference between FP, HP and RC with Bonferroni adjustment (p = 0.05/3). Post-hoc analysis: d = p < 0.017 between FP and RC. e = p < 0.017 between HP and RC. f = p < 0.017 between FP and HP. Missing data for strength and endurance; FP: n = 3 and n = 5 for flexor and extensor tests, respectively; HP: n = 5 and n = 6 for flexor and extensor tests, respectively; RC: n = 8 for both flexor and extensor tests. Nm = Newton meters, s = seconds