• Yvonne Brandt, Linda Currier, Timothy W Plante, Christine M Schubert Kabban, and Anthony P Tvaryanas.
• Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA.
• Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2015 Oct 1; 86 (10): 889-94.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to determine if five core strengthening exercises would decrease pain severity and related disability in U.S. Air Force helicopter aircrew members with low back pain.MethodsThe study was a randomized control group repeated measures design. The experimental manipulation consisted of a set of five core strengthening exercises performed 4 d/wk for 12 wk. Self-reported pain severity and disability were ascertained at baseline and 12 wk using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index (MODI), respectively. The NPRS was used to ascertain both daily pain (NPRS(daily)) and in-flight pain (NPRS(flight)). Self-reported improvement or deterioration in low back pain was measured using the Global Rating of Change Scale (GRCS).ResultsThere were 12 subjects enrolled and 5 were randomized to the intervention group. The mean NPRS(flight) score decreased 1.8 points vs. increasing 0.1 points during the trial for the intervention and control groups, respectively. The mean MODI score decreased 4.8 points vs. increasing 1.7 points during the trial for the intervention and control groups, respectively. The mean GRCS score at the end of the trial was 4.0 vs. 0 for the intervention and control groups, respectively. There was no difference between groups in terms of mean NPRS(daily) scores.ConclusionsCore strengthening exercises were effective in reducing in-flight pain and led to a reduction in pain symptoms and disability over the 12-wk study period as compared to those subjects who maintained their regular exercise regimen.

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