Effect of guided training on physical performance and musculoskeletal disorders among helicopter crew

Tuomas Honkanen; Atte Etula; Heikki Kyröläinen; Roope Sovelius; Ilkka Laaksi; Tommi Ojanen

doi:10.2478/bhk-2026-0029

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Effect of guided training on physical performance and musculoskeletal disorders among helicopter crew

Biomedical Human Kinetics

Volume 18 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)

By: Tuomas Honkanen , Atte Etula , Heikki Kyröläinen , Roope Sovelius , Ilkka Laaksi and Tommi Ojanen

Open Access

|Nov 2026

Table 1

MVC, power, and endurance test results

	Pre-test (n = 29)	Mid-test (n = 26)			Post-test (n = 19)
Test	Mean value ± SD	Mean value ± SD	∆ MID (%)	p-value	Mean value ± SD	∆ POST (%)	p-value
MVC_legs (kg)	348 ± 66	364 ± 67	7.8***	<0.001	365 ± 82	−4,7*	0.011
MVC_arms (kg)	109 ± 21	107 ± 19	0.3	0.588	113 ± 22	1.7	0.220
SLJ (cm)	242 ± 19	240 ± 18	0.2	0.670	242 ± 19	−0.2	0.875
Medicine ball throw (cm)	678 ± 72	671 ± 70	−0.2	0.850	674 ± 67	0.5	0.795
Sit-ups (reps/min)	44 ± 12	46 ± 14	6.0*	0.012	51 ± 13	13.7**	0.008
Isometric back extension (s)	159 ± 28	155 ± 32	0.0	0.778	171 ± 18	13.3*	0.050

[i] *p ≤ 0.05, ** p ≤ 0.01, *** p ≤ 0.001 ∆ MID = change between the pre- and mid-tests. ∆ POST = Change between the mid- and post-tests.

Source: Authors’ contribution.

Table 2

MAP360 mobility test result

	Pre-test (n = 29)	Mid-test (n = 26)			Posttest (n = 22)
Test	Mean value ± SD	Mean value ± SD	∆ MID (%)	p-value	Mean value ± SD	∆ POST (%)	p-value
LEFT R45 (cm)	85 ± 7	84 ± 8	−0.5	0.554	88 ± 7	3.5*	0.040
RIGHT L45 (cm)	86 ± 8	85 ± 8	−0.7	0.279	87 ± 7	2.3	0.127
LEFT L45 (cm)	74 ± 10	76 ± 9	1.9	0.251	78 ± 8	1.6	0.587
RIGHT R45 (cm)	75 ± 9	75 ± 9	0.4	0.940	77 ± 8	2.3	0.459
LEFT L135 (cm)	85 ± 12	83 ± 11	−1.0	0.351	94 ± 12	12.9***	0.001
RIGHT R135 (cm)	85 ± 12	84 ± 10	0.8	0.806	91 ± 12	6.9	0.012*
LEFT R135 (cm)	63 ± 14	66 ± 14	5.5	0.094	68 ± 14	2.5	0.568
RIGHT L135 (cm)	68 ± 16	69 ± 14	2.3	0.421	72 ± 13	5.8	0.147
LEFT Rot R (deg)	110 ± 15	107 ± 14	−1.0	0.277	134 ± 11	30.1***	< 0.001
LEFT Rot L(deg)	111 ± 18	108 ± 16	−2.2	0.111	130 ± 14	23.4***	< 0.001
RIGHT Rot R(deg)	110 ± 15	105 ± 14	−2.6	0.089	131 ± 14	26.6***	< 0.001
RIGHT Rot L (deg)	110 ± 15	108 ± 13	−0.2	0.617	132 ± 12	25.9***	< 0.001

LEFT/RIGHT indicates the stance feet; R/L is the direction of movement; Rotational test results are in degrees (Deg) and Reach test results in centimeters (cm).

[i] *p ≤ 0.05, ** p ≤ 0.01, *** p ≤ 0.001 ∆ MID = change between the pre- and mid-tests. ∆ POST = Change between the mid- and post-tests.

Source: Authors’ contribution.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2026-0029 | Journal eISSN: 2080-2234

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Language: English

Page range: 317 - 328

Submitted on: Jun 26, 2026

Accepted on: Jul 26, 2026

Published on: Nov 2, 2026

Published by: University of Physical Education in Warsaw

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

Helicopter crew,

Helicopter pilots,

Guided training,

Musculoskeletal disorders,

Physical training

Related subjects:

Medicine,

Basic medical science,

Basic medical science, other,

Sports and recreation,

Physical education,

Sports and recreation, other

© 2026 Tuomas Honkanen, Atte Etula, Heikki Kyröläinen, Roope Sovelius, Ilkka Laaksi, Tommi Ojanen, published by University of Physical Education in Warsaw
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 18 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)

Effect of guided training on physical performance and musculoskeletal disorders among helicopter crew

Figure 1

Figure 2

Table 1

Table 2

Figure 3

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