Prediction and Analysis of Acute and Chronic Neck Pain in Military Pilots and Vehicle Occupants

Military pilot and aircrew acute and chronic neck pain is a distracting and potentially debilitating problem that diminishes mission performance and quality of life during and after service. The problem has multiple contributing pain evocation factors that can be computationally modelled. This project will develop a computational modelling framework to predict acute exertional pain, repetitive strain onset and chronic pain onset before initial structural failure while accounting for pre-existing pain or structural damage. The project will determine the structural origins and evocation mechanisms of helicopter pilot neck pain occurrences. Based on these pain causations, a computational modeling approach will be developed to predict the onset of these pain causations during operational missions with associated flight and mission enhancement equipment in a military-relevant cockpit. The proposed solution utilizes a computational engine that simulates the complexity of a pilot’s environment and actions, together with an enhanced model of the neck structure having anatomically correct cervical spine skeletal components, discs, ligaments, and muscles with appropriate material response. A military pilot task-relevant neck pain survey will be developed to assist future work. This model will aid in predicting and preventing chronic pain and tissue damage for developmental activities, crew assignment, and mission planning.