CASE REPORT
Skydiving and the risk
of cervical disc herniation
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1
Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
(Occupational Medicine Department)
2
Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
(Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department)
3
Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
(Physiology Department)
Online publication date: 2017-10-13
Corresponding author
Ayşe Coşkun Beyan
Dokuz Eylul University, Occupational Medicine Department, Mithatpasa 1606, 35330 Balcova, İzmir, Turkey
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2018;31(2):243-9
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ABSTRACT
The skydiving/parachuting sport which has recently gained popularity is also known for its accidents and injuries. However,
there are a few studies related to its occupational ergonomic risks and occupational musculoskeletal diseases. It has been
reported that the sudden hyperextension of the neck during the parachute opening, so called opening shock results in neck
pain. It has been found that the jumpers are subjected to an average deceleration of 3–5 times the earth’s gravitational acceleration
(3–5 G) during parachute opening shock. It is considered that the spinal cord is destabilized by the impact of this
force. This study presents the occupational cervical disc herniation occurring in the case of a subject who has been working
as a skydiving/parachuting instructor for 25 years, and the ergonomic risks specific to the sports of skydiving. There is a requirement
for systematic and representative studies related to the administrative measures to be taken in order to prevent
the occupational diseases that may occur in the case of skydivers, the personal protective equipment to be used, and the
employee. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(2):243–249