Physical Training for Long-Duration Spaceflight

Loehr, James A.; Guilliams, Martin; Petersen, Nora; Hirsch, Natalie; Kawashima, Shino; Ohshima, Hiroshi

doi:10.3357/amhp.ec03.2015

Cited by 104 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

127

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Indeed, when the astronaut is running after a space flight, each ground impact has a repercussion in the cervical region, which is not designed to resist a compression force. This raises the question of the post flight reconditioning program (Loerch, 2015; Loehr et al, 2015) and inflight cervical countermeasures to minimize or prevent injury to the cervical region.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intervertebral Disc Swelling Demonstrated by 3D and Water Content Magnetic Resonance Analyses after a 3-Day Dry Immersion Simulating Microgravity

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Vertebral deconditioning is commonly experienced after space flight and simulation studies. Disc herniation is quadrupled after space flight.Purpose: The main hypothesis formulated by the authors is that microgravity results in intervertebral disc (IVD) swelling.Study Design: The aim of the study was to identify the morphological changes of the spine and their clinical consequences after simulated microgravity by 3-day dry immersion (DI). The experimental protocol was performed on 12 male volunteers using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy before and after DI.Methods: All the experiment was financially supported by CNES (Centre national d'études spatiales i.e., French Space Agency).Results: We observed an increase in spine height of 1.5 ± 0.4 cm and a decrease in curvature, particularly for the lumbar region with a decrease of −4 ± 2.5°. We found a significant increase in IVD volume of +8 ± 9% at T12-L1 and +11 ± 9% at L5-S1. This phenomenon is likely associated with the increase in disc intervertebral water content (IWC), 17 ± 27%. During the 3 days in DI, 92% of the subjects developed back pain in the lumbar region below the diaphragmatic muscle. This clinical observation may be linked to the morphological changes of the spine.Conclusions: The morphological changes observed and, specifically, the disc swelling caused by increased IWC may contribute to understanding disc herniation after microgravity exposure. Our results confirmed the efficiency of the 3-day DI model to reproduce quickly the effects of microgravity on spine morphology. Our findings raise the question of the subject selection in spatial studies, especially studies about spine morphology and reconditioning programs after space flight. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying disc herniation and may serve as the basis to develop countermeasures for astronauts and to prevent IVD herniation and back pain on Earth.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intervertebral Disc Swelling Demonstrated by 3D and Water Content Magnetic Resonance Analyses after a 3-Day Dry Immersion Simulating Microgravity

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For these tests, a trained clinician palpates the spine to seek out vertebral somatic dysfunction (VD) through passive movements of the vertebra. It is known that inactivity associated with microgravity exposure contributes to deconditioning after spaceflight [18]. Therefore, manual testing of vertebral mobility is a noninvasive methodology that could be used to identify and evaluate vertebral zones of restricted movement before and after microgravity exposure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pain and Vertebral Dysfunction in Dry Immersion: A Model of Microgravity Simulation Different from Bed Rest Studies

Treffel

Massabuau

Zuj

et al. 2017

Pain Research and Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Astronauts frequently experience back pain during and after spaceflight. The aim of this study was to utilize clinical methods to identify potential vertebral somatic dysfunction (VD) in subjects exposed to dry immersion (DI), a model of microgravity simulation. Method The experiment was performed in a space research clinic, respecting all the ethical rules, with subjects completing three days of dry immersion (n = 11). Assessments of VD, spine height, and back pain were made before and after simulated microgravity. Results Back pain was present in DI with great global discomfort during the entire protocol. A low positive correlation was found (Pearson r = 0.44; P < 0.001) between VD before DI and pain developed in the DI experiment. Conclusions There is a specific location of pain in both models of simulation. Our analysis leads to relativizing constraints on musculoskeletal system in function of simulation models. This study was the first to examine manual palpation of the spine in a space experience. Additionally, osteopathic view may be used to select those individuals who have less risk of developing back pain.

show abstract

“…; Loehr et al. ). We previously documented that LBNP EX for only 45 min, 3–4 days week −1 together with a flywheel‐resistive exercise protocol maintained aerobic capacity (Schneider et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Treadmill exercise within lower body negative pressure protects leg lean tissue mass and extensor strength and endurance during bed rest

Schneider

Lee

Feiveson

et al. 2016

Physiological Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Leg muscle mass and strength are decreased during reduced activity and non‐weight‐bearing conditions such as bed rest (BR) and spaceflight. Supine treadmill exercise within lower body negative pressure (LBNPEX) provides full‐body weight loading during BR and may prevent muscle deconditioning. We hypothesized that a 40‐min interval exercise protocol performed against LBNPEX 6 days week−1 would attenuate losses in leg lean mass (LLM), strength, and endurance during 6° head‐down tilt BR, with similar benefits for men and women. Fifteen pairs of healthy monozygous twins (8 male and 7 female pairs) completed 30 days of BR with one sibling of each twin pair assigned randomly as the non‐exercise control (CON) and the other twin as the exercise subject (EX). Before and after BR, LLM and isokinetic leg strength and endurance were measured. Mean knee and ankle extensor and flexor strength and endurance and LLM decreased from pre‐ to post‐BR in the male CON subjects (P < 0.01), but knee extensor strength and endurance, ankle extensor strength, and LLM were maintained in the male EX subjects. In contrast, no pre‐ to post‐BR changes were significant in the female subjects, either CON or EX, likely due to their lower pre‐BR values. Importantly, the LBNPEX countermeasure prevents or attenuates declines in LLM as well as extensor leg strength and endurance. Individuals who are stronger, have higher levels of muscular endurance, and/or have greater LLM are likely to experience greater losses during BR than those who are less fit.

show abstract

Physical Training for Long-Duration Spaceflight

Cited by 104 publications

References 0 publications

Intervertebral Disc Swelling Demonstrated by 3D and Water Content Magnetic Resonance Analyses after a 3-Day Dry Immersion Simulating Microgravity

Intervertebral Disc Swelling Demonstrated by 3D and Water Content Magnetic Resonance Analyses after a 3-Day Dry Immersion Simulating Microgravity

Pain and Vertebral Dysfunction in Dry Immersion: A Model of Microgravity Simulation Different from Bed Rest Studies

Treadmill exercise within lower body negative pressure protects leg lean tissue mass and extensor strength and endurance during bed rest

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About