[JJ_BPK]

Glad it is only the Navy and Marine pilots that are having this problem..

http://www.military.com/news/article...tml?ESRC=eb.nl

Report: Helo Pilots Get Secret Care to Save Careers
May 13, 2011
Stars and Stripes|by Seth Robson

TOKYO -- Military helicopter pilots who suffer chronic back and neck problems -- thought to be caused by long missions in constantly vibrating aircraft -- have been secretly seeking treatment at civilian medical facilities for fear the injuries could jeopardize their careers, an unreleased Navy study has revealed.

Back and neck injuries were the focus of the survey of 1,800 Navy and Marine Corps aviators conducted last year, according to Kurt Garbow, director of aviation and operational safety in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Safety).

“What we are finding out is that many pilots and aircrew have been going outside the military to obtain treatment because they are concerned about their ability to be medically qualified [to fly]. They are afraid of losing their careers,” said Garbow, who explained that it is not uncommon for such military studies not to be released to the public.

The results of the Navy study, obtained by Stars and Stripes, confirm what previous investigations have found.

Now, the military is attempting to gather more detailed information about the extent of the problem and come up with potential solutions, Garbow said. More than 8,000 military aviators from all service branches, including the Coast Guard, took part in a more in-depth survey last month. Dick Healing, a former U.S. Navy safety chief, who leads a team from defense consultant R Cubed that is analyzing data from last month’s survey, said the survey asked aviators about the number of hours they had flown, the type and intensity of pain they had experienced and whether they had sought medical treatment.

Healing said there is a large discrepancy between the general population, where 20 percent of people suffer back pain, and helicopter crew members, where as many as 80 percent to 90 percent suffer lower back pain.

“In the worst cases, people have had to stop flying or go into surgery for fused spinal discs,” he said.

Poor posture and heavy gear such as body armor, helmets and night-vision goggles are believed to be part of the problem, he said. But the biggest problem might be in the design of helicopter seats.

The blame game...

Do they they ruck 100 lb packs in their helo rides???