VR Training for Pilots With Neck Pain
Therapeutic Virtual Reality Training for Neck Pain in Israeli Air Force Pilots - A Randomized Controlled Trial
Studieoversigt
Status
Betingelser
Intervention / Behandling
Detaljeret beskrivelse
The aim of the proposed study is to investigate the effectiveness of an interactive, virtual reality (VR) training program for pilots compared with standard care. The proposed intervention program includes training in neck range of motion, control, accuracy and coordination and is expected to reduce the prevalence and operational impact of neck pain in the intervention group more effectively than does standard care alone.
The proposed study will be designed as a randomized, controlled trial (RCT). Sixty fighter and helicopter pilots will be randomized into two groups, to receive either standard physiotherapy and medical care or standard care with the addition of interactive, dynamic, controlled training (a self-exercise program) in VR to address the fast, accurate head control required in flying tasks.
Subjective outcome measures will include pain intensity and global perceived effect. Objective measures will include range of motion, motion velocity and accuracy. The functional measure will include days grounded due to neck pain.
Statistical analysis will use independent, repeated measures ANOVA on each parameter, within and between groups. Post hoc comparisons, including several preplanned contrasts, will be performed to assess differences before and after treatment, and the stability of changes over time, in each group. The relationship of risk factors to performance failures will be assessed using multivariate logistic regression analyses.
This study is the first in the Israeli Air Force to evaluate this type of comprehensive, functional intervention program. Such research will dramatically advance the military's health care approach to neck pain, and may be further applied to other populations in and outside the Israeli Defence Force (IDF). This study may serve as a stepping stone to further research related to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention methods during a pilot's active service.
Undersøgelsestype
Tilmelding (Faktiske)
Fase
- Ikke anvendelig
Kontakter og lokationer
Studiesteder
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Haifa, Israel, 3498838
- The Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences
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Tel Hashomer, Israel
- Medical Aviation Unit
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Deltagelseskriterier
Berettigelseskriterier
Aldre berettiget til at studere
Tager imod sunde frivillige
Køn, der er berettiget til at studere
Beskrivelse
Inclusion Criteria:
- fighter and helicopter pilots from the Israeli Air Force
- acute, sub-acute, and chronic neck pain, with or without referral to the upper limbs
Exclusion Criteria:
- neurological disorders (e.g. evidence for positive neurological signs), systemic disease, history of spinal surgery, or any disorders that may limit the ability to exercise
Studieplan
Hvordan er undersøgelsen tilrettelagt?
Design detaljer
- Primært formål: Behandling
- Tildeling: Randomiseret
- Interventionel model: Parallel tildeling
- Maskning: Enkelt
Våben og indgreb
Deltagergruppe / Arm |
Intervention / Behandling |
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Aktiv komparator: control
Patients in the control group will receive standard physiotherapy and medical care, as provided to all patients with neck pain in the aviation medicine clinic.
This will reflect the standard care that has been provided to all patients.
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physiotherapy and medical care as provided currently
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Eksperimentel: intervention
Standard care (as provided to controls) with the addition of virtual reality training (a self-exercise program) using a VR system to address the fast, accurate head control required in flying tasks.
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The proposed VR intervention program will provide active training to be performed individually 4 times a week for 20 minutes a session. The intervention program will be supervised by qualified, experienced physiotherapists, and will include individual training and two follow up meetings during the study period. The intervention program will include strengthening and endurance exercises for the cervical and shoulder girdle muscles. Training will include sensorimotor control and functional, quick, accurate, neck motion, using interactive VR training systems. This type of advanced training is very relevant to the pilots function in the cockpit as it includes interactive tasks aimed to increase range, speed, smoothness, accuracy, and control of cervical motion. |
Hvad måler undersøgelsen?
Primære resultatmål
Resultatmål |
Foranstaltningsbeskrivelse |
Tidsramme |
|---|---|---|
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Pain intensity is measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, 0-100mm)
Tidsramme: change from baseline at 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months.
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Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, 0-100mm)
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change from baseline at 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months.
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Global perceived effect of the provided treatment is measured on a scale from -5 to +5.
Tidsramme: change from baseline at 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months.
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Global perceived effect of the provided treatment was measured on a scale from -5 to +5.
Zero represented no change, +5 excellent improvement due to the treatment provided, and -5, vast worsening.
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change from baseline at 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months.
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Functional outcome is measured by the number of grounding days from flying due to neck pain.
Tidsramme: change from baseline at 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months.
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The number of days the pilot was grounded due to neck pain.
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change from baseline at 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months.
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Sekundære resultatmål
Resultatmål |
Foranstaltningsbeskrivelse |
Tidsramme |
|---|---|---|
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Cervical range of motion is measured using the neck VR system (ROM, degrees)
Tidsramme: change from baseline at 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months.
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Cervical range of motion (ROM, degrees) is measured using the neck VR system, into flexion, extension, right and left rotation.
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change from baseline at 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months.
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Cervical motion velocity is measured using the neck VR system (degrees/second)
Tidsramme: change from baseline at 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months.
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Cervical motion velocity is measured using the neck VR system (degrees/second) into flexion, extension, right and left rotation.
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change from baseline at 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months.
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Cervical muscles isometric strength is measures using a dynamometer (Newton)
Tidsramme: change from baseline at 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months.
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Cervical muscles isometric strength is measures using a dynamometer (Newton), in the directions of static flexion and extension.
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change from baseline at 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months.
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Samarbejdspartnere og efterforskere
Sponsor
Samarbejdspartnere
Efterforskere
- Ledende efterforsker: Hilla Sarig-Bahat, PT, PhD, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Haifa
Publikationer og nyttige links
Generelle publikationer
- Sarig Bahat H, Takasaki H, Chen X, Bet-Or Y, Treleaven J. Cervical kinematic training with and without interactive VR training for chronic neck pain - a randomized clinical trial. Man Ther. 2015 Feb;20(1):68-78. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2014.06.008. Epub 2014 Jul 5.
- Hamalainen O, Heinijoki H, Vanharanta H. Neck training and +Gz-related neck pain: a preliminary study. Mil Med. 1998 Oct;163(10):707-8.
- Sarig Bahat H, Weiss PL, Laufer Y. The effect of neck pain on cervical kinematics, as assessed in a virtual environment. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2010 Dec;91(12):1884-90. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2010.09.007.
- Jones JA, Hart SF, Baskin DS, Effenhauser R, Johnson SL, Novas MA, Jennings R, Davis J. Human and behavioral factors contributing to spine-based neurological cockpit injuries in pilots of high-performance aircraft: recommendations for management and prevention. Mil Med. 2000 Jan;165(1):6-12.
- van den Oord MH, De Loose V, Meeuwsen T, Sluiter JK, Frings-Dresen MH. Neck pain in military helicopter pilots: prevalence and associated factors. Mil Med. 2010 Jan;175(1):55-60. doi: 10.7205/milmed-d-09-00038.
- Tucker B, Netto K, Hampson G, Oppermann B, Aisbett B. Predicting neck pain in Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilots. Mil Med. 2012 Apr;177(4):444-50. doi: 10.7205/milmed-d-11-00256.
- Grossman A, Nakdimon I, Chapnik L, Levy Y. Back symptoms in aviators flying different aircraft. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2012 Jul;83(7):702-5. doi: 10.3357/asem.3225.2012.
- Knudson R, McMillan D, Doucette D, Seidel M. A comparative study of G-induced neck injury in pilots of the F/A-18, A-7, and A-4. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1988 Aug;59(8):758-60.
- Ang BO, Monnier A, Harms-Ringdahl K. Neck/shoulder exercise for neck pain in air force helicopter pilots: a randomized controlled trial. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 Jul 15;34(16):E544-51. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181aa6870.
- Alricsson M, Harms-Ringdahl K, Larsson B, Linder J, Werner S. Neck muscle strength and endurance in fighter pilots: effects of a supervised training program. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2004 Jan;75(1):23-8.
Datoer for undersøgelser
Studer store datoer
Studiestart
Primær færdiggørelse (Faktiske)
Studieafslutning (Faktiske)
Datoer for studieregistrering
Først indsendt
Først indsendt, der opfyldte QC-kriterier
Først opslået (Skøn)
Opdateringer af undersøgelsesjournaler
Sidste opdatering sendt (Faktiske)
Sidste opdatering indsendt, der opfyldte kvalitetskontrolkriterier
Sidst verificeret
Mere information
Begreber relateret til denne undersøgelse
Yderligere relevante MeSH-vilkår
Andre undersøgelses-id-numre
- UHaifaAF
Plan for individuelle deltagerdata (IPD)
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