TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of an optimised helmet fit on neck load and neck pain during military helicopter flights
AU - van den Oord, Marieke H. A. H.
AU - Steinman, Yuval
AU - Sluiter, Judith K.
AU - Frings-Dresen, Monique H. W.
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - The main purpose of this study was to improve the helmet fit of military helicopter aircrew members and evaluate its effect on the experienced helmet stability (helmet gliding), neck load, neck pain, hot spots (pressure points), irritation/distraction, and overall helmet comfort during night flights. A within-subject design was used over a three-month period that consisted of two consecutive interventions of optimising the fit of the aircrew's helmets: 1) a new helmet fit using a renewed protocol and 2) replacement of a thermoplastic inner liner with a viscoelastic foam inner liner. A total of 18 pilots and loadmasters rated the outcome measures using the Visual Analogue Scales immediately after their night flights, for three night flights in total per measurement period. The optimised helmet fit resulted in a significant decrease in the experienced helmet gliding, neck load and pressure points, a decrease trend in the experienced neck pain and irritation/distraction, and a significant increase in the experienced overall helmet comfort during flight. These results demonstrate the importance of achieving an optimised helmet fit for military helicopter aircrew and that an optimised helmet fit might have implications for both health and safety concerns. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved
AB - The main purpose of this study was to improve the helmet fit of military helicopter aircrew members and evaluate its effect on the experienced helmet stability (helmet gliding), neck load, neck pain, hot spots (pressure points), irritation/distraction, and overall helmet comfort during night flights. A within-subject design was used over a three-month period that consisted of two consecutive interventions of optimising the fit of the aircrew's helmets: 1) a new helmet fit using a renewed protocol and 2) replacement of a thermoplastic inner liner with a viscoelastic foam inner liner. A total of 18 pilots and loadmasters rated the outcome measures using the Visual Analogue Scales immediately after their night flights, for three night flights in total per measurement period. The optimised helmet fit resulted in a significant decrease in the experienced helmet gliding, neck load and pressure points, a decrease trend in the experienced neck pain and irritation/distraction, and a significant increase in the experienced overall helmet comfort during flight. These results demonstrate the importance of achieving an optimised helmet fit for military helicopter aircrew and that an optimised helmet fit might have implications for both health and safety concerns. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2012.01.004
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2012.01.004
M3 - Article
C2 - 22356840
SN - 0003-6870
VL - 43
SP - 958
EP - 964
JO - Applied ergonomics
JF - Applied ergonomics
IS - 5
ER -