Where Does it Hurt? Lifting-Related Musculoskeletal Discomfort in Air Ambulance Crews

Evidence from past studies supports the proposition that air ambulance crews are at risk for musculoskeletal injury. We evaluated the association between musculoskeletal discomfort and lifting tasks in air ambulance crews, through the use of a body map discomfort survey and a 25-question demographic/lifting activities questionnaire. Male and female full-time employees of two hundred seventy-one air ambulance services throughout the continental United States were surveyed. Participants self-reported discomfort levels for twenty-five body locations. Data for seven of these locations indicated pain with an average value greater than three on a 10-point scale, and 39 (19.6%) of the two hundred participants had been diagnosed with discogenic back pain. Eighty-seven (44.3%) stated they had lifted over 50 pounds of distributed weight more than six times in the last thirty days. Sixty-two (31.2%) reported that their air ambulance service used no mechanical lifting aids. Furthermore, 28 (45.2%) of those with no lifting aids observed a particularly challenging lifting task within the past 30 days. There is considerable evidence that air ambulance crews experience body discomfort related to their lifting tasks. Potential ergonomic improvements are discussed.