Back Pain
Posted by Proper-Werewolf2443@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 6 comments
Looking for any tips into mitigating low back pain/soreness from prolonged sitting in a small cockpit.
I‘ve been flying a Phenom 300 for 2 1/2 years now, about 600 hours a year. For those of you unfamiliar, the cockpit is reminiscent of a Cessna 152. The unfortunate thing is that I really enjoy my job, but I have 6+ months left on my seat lock, and it may be too much to stick around that long with this issue.
I’ve been doing PT and stretching religiously, but the only thing that seems to help is prolonged periods away from the airplane. I’ve had testing done to confirm I don’t have any spinal issue. I feel that it stems from how narrow the cockpit is, and the effects on the hips.
Any advice from someone in a similar position would be great!
norcal64d@reddit
Weightlifting, walking, and moving is the answer. My back was screaming from sitting in helicopters and the physical therapist I went to was a huge proponent of solving back pain with weight lifting. His thing he’d say was “big butts, no back pain.” I’ve been deadlifting (and other olympic lifts) for 2.5 years now and my back better than it’s ever been.
Mundane-Reality-7770@reddit
Stronger ass muscles. Not kidding
Brotein40@reddit
This
Rush_1_1@reddit
As a software engineer with the same issue but from software, sleeping on my back with a pillow under my knees helps, or sleeping on my side holding a pillow like a cuddle and also one between my knees.
Ill-Cryptographer542@reddit
Check out the book Back Mechanic. Helped me.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Looking for any tips into mitigating low back pain/soreness from prolonged sitting in a small cockpit.
I‘ve been flying a Phenom 300 for 2 1/2 years now, about 600 hours a year. For those of you unfamiliar, the cockpit is reminiscent of a Cessna 152. The unfortunate thing is that I really enjoy my job, but I have 6+ months left on my seat lock, and it may be too much to stick around that long with this issue.
I’ve been doing PT and stretching religiously, but the only thing that seems to help is prolonged periods away from the airplane. I’ve had testing done to confirm I don’t have any spinal issue. I feel that it stems from how narrow the cockpit is, and the effects on the hips.
Any advice from someone in a similar position would be great!
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