Functional Task and Balance Performance in Bed Rest Subjects and Astronauts

Abstract

The performance data suggest that an additional sensorimotor-based countermeasure may be necessary to maintain functional performance at preflight levels immediately after spaceflight.Miller CA, Kofman IS, Brady RR, May-Phillips TR, Batson CD, Lawrence EL, Taylor LC, Peters BT, Mulavara AP, Feiveson AH, Reschke MF, Bloomberg JJ. Functional task and balance performance in bed rest subjects and astronauts. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2018; 89(9):805-815.

Tandem walking as a quick screening test for vestibular disorders

“…The acute stage of recovery from a vestibular insult may be similar to acutely postflight astronauts when they have returned from space flight. Tandem walking when tested using the measure of total correct steps, as we did in this study, is useful for detecting change in dynamic postural stability in postflight astronauts . The test might be useful for examining change over time, for examining acutely ill patients, or for assessing performance of patients with other types of motor disorders.…”

“…Tandem walking when tested using the measure of total correct steps, as we did in this study, is useful for detecting change in dynamic postural stability in postflight astronauts. 8 The test might be useful for examining change over time, for examining acutely ill patients, or for assessing performance of patients with other types of motor disorders. This test might be useful for primary care physicians for assessing the influence of medications or rehabilitation interventions on gait and balance.…”

“…Counting the total number of tandem steps out of 10 has been used previously to characterize changes in dynamic postural stability after spaceflight. 8 The goal of the present study was to test that hypothesis.…”

“…We hypothesized that sensitivity would be improved when the test was given with eyes closed and the dependent measure was the total number of tandem steps out of 10, instead of the number of consecutive tandem steps out of 10. Counting the total number of tandem steps out of 10 has been used previously to characterize changes in dynamic postural stability after spaceflight . The goal of the present study was to test that hypothesis.…”

Neural Correlates of Vestibular Processing During a Spaceflight Analog With Elevated Carbon Dioxide (CO2): A Pilot Study

“…Thus, during HDBR, in the absence of normal somatosensory inputs to the foot, vestibular processing appears to be altered, with vestibular cues weighted more heavily (Mulavara et al, 2018). HDBR also results in reduced functional mobility and decreased postural stability, which are both behaviors that depend upon the vestibular system and multisensory integration (Reschke et al, 2009;Mulder et al, 2014;Koppelmans et al, 2015Koppelmans et al, , 2017Miller et al, 2018;Mulavara et al, 2018). Thus, taken together, HDBR provides an effective environment for studying neural vestibular adaptation and has applications for both space travel and for better understanding plasticity of the vestibular system and multisensory integration.…”