Degenerative Disease In Lumbar Spine Of Military Parachuting Instructors

Abstract

Parachuting, be it static line or skydiving, places enormous stresses on the human spine. It is, therefore, important to determine the prevalence and severity of degenerative changes in the lumbar spine of subjects who practice this sport activity. Seventy four parachuting instructors, mean age 33 years and with an average of 410 static line and skydiving jumps, were included in the study. Past radiographs were examined and compared to current anterolateral and lateral views of the lumbar spine, in order to determine the prevalence of degenerative changes and document possible progression. Doubtful radiographic changes in the lumbar spine were identified in 47.4 percent of the parachuting instructors, mild degeneration in 9.6 percent, moderate degenerative disease in 10.9 percent and severe radiographic changes in 5.5 percent. Schmorll nodes were found in 8.1 percent of the subjects. Traction spurs--osteophytes were identified in 6.8 percent. The degenerative changes correlated with age and the number of jumps. Spondylolysis of L5-S1 and L3-L4 segments were observed in 12.2 and 1.4 percent respectively. Progressive spondylolisthesis was found in 2 subjects. No correlation was found between the severity of radiographic changes and either the prevalence and the severity of low back pain. The present findings provide a rational for considering repeated sheer stress as an etiology of degenerative changes in the spinal cord, and as a possible contributing factor to the pathogenesis of spondylolysis. Further study has to be done comparing parachuting instructors to a non-parachuting group, or equivalent physically active individuals, in order to assess the effect of sport-background on the development of degenerative changes.

Chiropractic management of mechanical low back pain secondary to multiple-level lumbar spondylolysis with spondylolisthesis in a United States Marine Corps veteran: a case report

“…The authors also concluded that degenerative changes of the lumbar spine were correlated with age and the number of jumps and that the prevalence of spondylolysis among the sample of parachuting instructors was 13.6%. 28 Furthermore, the severity of the radiographic changes was not correlated with either the prevalence or the severity of LBP within this sample of parachuting instructors. 28 A rare case presentation of unilateral spondylolysis with contralateral lumbar pediculolysis at L5 was reported in a 34-year-old military parachutist with greater than 300 jumps over a 5-year period.…”

Skydiving and the risk of cervical disc herniation

“…Minor strains, impacts and micro traumas which do not result in immediate injuries are summed up and cause chronic conditions. Among these exposures, the most important one is the parachute opening shock (POS) [12]. According to the formula for converting potential energy into kinetic energy, when an approximately-80-kg person skydives at around 4000 mAGL, a terminal vertical velocArrows -C5/6 and C6/7 vertebrae.…”

“…Bar-Dayan et al have reported that out of the 74 parachuting instructors they had studied, 10.9% of them had had moderate, and 5.5% of them had had severe degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. However, during this study they did not reach a diagnose but only evaluated the complaints or the radiographic findings [12]. Our case had cervical disk herniations at multiple levels, and his lumbar MRI was normal except for chronic degenerative changes.…”

“…These disease may be categorized as occupational diseases that describe any disease contracted as a result of exposure to dangerous substances or conditions arising from work activity, or more often are categorized as work-related diseases that have multiple causes, in the case of which factors for skydiving, which involves movements such as jumping from a high altitude and a sudden deceleration after parachute opening [11]. Skydiving, which is mainly known for military parachuting and work-related accidents, also constitutes a high risk group for WRMSD, but the literature regarding occupational or work-related diseases is limited [12,13]. This study presents the WRMSD occurring in the case of a skydiving/parachuting instructor and aerial cameraman.…”

Degenerative Disc Disease in the Active Military Special Forces and the Financial Benefits of Early Detection Using a Quadruple Blind-Study

“…Musculoskeletal injuries resulting from service and fitness activities are a major source of lost duty time in active military personnel within the U.S. Armed Forces [1][2][3][4]. Between October 2001 and September 2010, it was reported that 16.3% of medical evacuation of servicemen from the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operational areas were due to musculoskeletal disorders [5].…”