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

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 interfer...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one Vol. 19; no. 7; p. e0306708
Main Authors: Fernández-Morales, Carlos, Espejo-Antúnez, Luis, Cardero-Durán, María de los Ángeles, Falla, Deborah, Moreno-Vázquez, Juan Manuel, Albornoz-Cabello, Manuel
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Public Library of Science 05.07.2024
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects:
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
Spain
ISSN:1932-6203, 1932-6203
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary: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.
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Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0306708