Scoliotic spinal deformity in pilot personnel from aviation physical examination’s point of view

According to results of performed examinations scoliotic spinal deformity in flight personnel has a low impact on professional health. This is proved by: oligosymptomatic course of disease — lack of complaints of pain, moderate pain, which is revealed only in case of loading tests and palpation; preservation of supporting and movement spinal function; lack of worsening of deformity during the flight service. At the same time in flight personnel suffering from scoliosis was registered a low tolerance to ergometric probe, which point to insufficient muscle reserve of lower extremities, abdominals and dorsum. This insufficient may have an adverse effect on G-tolerance of pilots serving in maneuvering aviation. According to this fact authors came to conclusion that first-degree scoliotic deformity is of importance for expert examination of pilots of high-performance aircraft. Scoliotic deformity in pilots of other branches of aviation is of importance only in case of clinical implications (pain syndrome, restraint of movement). From there, it is not necessary to make a record in regulatory documents of flight medical board about functional-compensatory spinal deformity (first- and second degree scoliosis) in flight personnel, except flight personnel of high-performance aircraft.

scoliotic spinal deformity, flight medical board, professional loading test