Minimization of Chronic Neck Pain in Military Aircrew and Vehicle Occupants

Luna Innovations proposes to design and develop a rapid computational model to analyze acute and chronic neck pain in military aircrew, and then to use this tool to develop viable countermeasures. The models will allow for the detailed investigation and analysis of acute and chronic neck pain experienced by combat air vehicle pilots and crewmen. The model will include interactions between seating systems, posture, and body-borne equipment and the generation of neck pain. Additionally, an aircrew specific neck pain scale will be developed to link pain experienced by combat air vehicle pilots and crewmen to metrics outputted from the model, allowing for injury prediction and design of mitigation devices.