Remember me. July 19, Lt. Milo Sawczyn, assigned to Training Air Wing Throughout the history of naval air training, pilots utilize continuously evolving tools, hardware and wearable protective gear unique to the aviation profession. Pilots are routinely exposed to physical stressors and demands when flying throughout the course of their careers. These demands can result in an elevated chance to develop physiological issues including neck, back pain or more serious injuries years later into their careers.
The Head and Back Injury Training HABIT program seeks to increase mission performance by providing flight instructors and Student Naval Aviators SNA with the resources and training necessary to reduce the chance of injury by adequately preparing their bodies for cockpit environment.
This includes a collection of stretches, exercises and workouts specifically developed to enhance mobility and address the stressors frequently experienced by pilots and aircrew.
By developing a virtual exercise program within the Navy App Locker to supplement this program, HABIT workouts can be incorporated into pre- and post-flight briefs with the goal of injury prevention and long-term health support for Naval Aviators. This weight, in addition to G-force, creates a strain for neck muscles during high performance maneuvers. Over time, the exposure to repeated neck strain can result in a higher likelihood of chronic neck and back pain.
Burton expanded his research to the strike fighter wing community and found similar issues. Instructors and students will be enabled to perform these exercises whenever access to a tablet allows. Most stretches are simple movements and can be performed while seated in a chair or in a space large enough to fit a yoga mat. Something I noticed from the beginning in aerospace physiology is that aircrew and pilots all deal with the prevalence of neck and back pain.
