[Usefulness of the lumbar support cushion for pilots of military helicopters].

The aim of our study was to evaluate the possibility of prevention of local reflex hyperactivity of the paraspinal muscles as the one of causes of low back pain during long-term sitting in forced position. We examined eight pilots, with low back pain during and after flying tasks. In improvised conditions, sitting position was performed in an equal term as the real, with and without lumbar support cushion. The pause between two examinations was 24 to 48 hours. Activity of paraspinal muscles was measured by surface electromyography, just after the ended sitting position. In six out of eight our subjects was decreased EMG activity after using the lumbar cushion, in comparison to values registered after sitting without cushion in comparison to values registered after sitting without cushion. We concluded that reflex hyperactivity of the paraspinal muscle could be prevented with lumbar cushion which, on the other hand can improve working and operative capabilities of the pilots, and simultaneously is rational from economic point of view.