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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01926262

Exercise as Treatment of Neck Pain Among Helicopter Pilots and Crew Members

The aim of this project is to investigate, whether physical training, targeted neck and shoulder muscles, can reduce and prevent neck pain among military helicopter pilots and crewmembers.

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Key information

Conditions

Neck Pain Arthralgia Behavior Joint Diseases Motor Activity Musculoskeletal Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Shoulder Pain Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Hilicopter Wing Karup

Karup, 7470, Denmark

About this study

Military helicopter pilots and crewmembers is often burdened by work-related neck and shoulder pain. Neck pain is a health challenge, that can reduce functional level, concentration and operational safety. Physical exercise has shown good efficacy in reducing neck/shoulder pain in other occupational groups in previous studies.

The Royal Danish Air Force and the University of Southern Denmark, wishes to examine whether specific physical exercise can prevent and reduce neck/shoulder pain within this occupational group.

Participants in this project will be randomly selected to either a physical exercise group or a reference group.

  • The physical exercise group will follow a training program targeted neck and shoulder muscles and train 1 hour per week (3 x 20 min) for 26 weeks.
  • The reference group will continue normal routines, including workout routines. They will later be offered the same training program as the Physical Exercise group provided that training has a positive effect.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Employed within the Royal Danish Air Force
  • Helicopter pilot
  • Crewmember (Flight engineer, Rescue swimmer or Mission System Operator)
  • Flown within the past 6 months

Exclusion criteria

  • Grounded at time of inclusion
  • Participated in a training intervention within the past 12 months

Treatment and study plan

Specific Strength Training

Behavioral

Specific Strength Training for the Neck and Shoulder Muscles

Primary outcomes

  1. Neck and shoulder pain

    Time frame: 6 months

    Neck pain will be assessed as self-rated pain on a 10 point scale by questionnaire at baseline and follow-up after 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pressure-Pain-Threshold

    Time frame: 6 months

    Pressure-Pain-Threshold will be assessed at baseline and follow-up after 6 months

  2. Muscle strength and steadiness

    Time frame: 6 months

    Muscle strength and steadiness will be quantified by force transducers at baseline and follow-up after 6 months

  3. Postural stability

    Time frame: 6 months

    Postural stability will be assessed at baseline and follow-up after 6 months

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Southern Denmark

Other

Collaborators

  • The Royal Danish Air Force

Registry information

Official study title

Physical Exercise Against Neck and Shoulder Pain in Danish Military Helicopter Pilots and Crewmembers - A Clinical Randomized, Controlled Trail

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2014
First posted
Aug 20, 2013
Registry last updated
Dec 2, 2015

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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