Short-arm centrifugation as a partially effective musculoskeletal countermeasure during 5-day head-down tilt bed rest—results from the BRAG1 study

Rittweger, Jörn; Bareille, Marie-Pierre; Clément, Gilles; Linnarsson, Dag; Paloski, William H.; Wuyts, Floris L.; Zange, Jochen; Angerer, Oliver

doi:10.1007/s00421-015-3120-1

Cited by 33 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…However, neither protocol attenuated plasma volume loss (Linnarsson et al, 2015 ), nor prevented changes in left ventricular function (Caiani et al, 2014 ). Compared to the 30 min protocol, the intermittent AG protocol resulted in increased MVC capability in the knee extensor and plantar flexor muscles (Rittweger et al, 2015 ), lower adrenocortical stress responses (Choukèr et al, 2013 ), and fewer neurovestibular symptoms (Clément et al, 2015 ).…”

Section: Lessons Learned For/from Space Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Pathophysiological Adaptations to the Space Environment

et al. 2017

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Space is an extreme environment for the human body, where during long-term missions microgravity and high radiation levels represent major threats to crew health. Intriguingly, space flight (SF) imposes on the body of highly selected, well-trained, and healthy individuals (astronauts and cosmonauts) pathophysiological adaptive changes akin to an accelerated aging process and to some diseases. Such effects, becoming manifest over a time span of weeks (i.e., cardiovascular deconditioning) to months (i.e., loss of bone density and muscle atrophy) of exposure to weightlessness, can be reduced through proper countermeasures during SF and in due time are mostly reversible after landing. Based on these considerations, it is increasingly accepted that SF might provide a mechanistic insight into certain pathophysiological processes, a concept of interest to pre-nosological medicine. In this article, we will review the main stress factors encountered in space and their impact on the human body and will also discuss the possible lessons learned with space exploration in reference to human health on Earth. In fact, this is a productive, cross-fertilized, endeavor in which studies performed on Earth yield countermeasures for protection of space crew health, and space research is translated into health measures for Earth-bound population.

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Section: Lessons Learned For/from Space Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Pathophysiological Adaptations to the Space Environment

et al. 2017

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“…Participants in the two intervention groups (cAG and iAG) completed one daily session of 30 min of centrifugation, continuous for cAG and interspersed with 3 min breaks in between the 5 min bouts of centrifugation for iAG. These centrifugation protocols were based on the protocols used in a previous short-term bed rest study (Rittweger et al, 2015) and aimed to assess benefits of and differences between the two protocols with respect to AG tolerance and SANS. All sessions were supervised by a medical doctor and were carried out in a horizontal position, i.e., at 0 • HDT.…”

Section: Centrifugationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cardiorespiratory and Neuromuscular Demand of Daily Centrifugation: Results From the 60-Day AGBRESA Bed Rest Study

et al. 2020

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Purpose: Long stays in space require countermeasures for the degrading effects of weightlessness on the human body, and artificial gravity (AG) has been proposed as an integrated countermeasure. The aim of this study was to assess the cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular demand of AG elicited via daily centrifugation during 60 days of bed rest. Methods: Twenty four participants (33 ± 9 y, 175 ± 9 cm, 74 ± 10 kg, 8 female) were subjected to 60 days of strict six-degree head-down tilt (HDT) bed rest and were randomly allocated to one of three experimental groups: 30 min of daily centrifugation with an acceleration of 1 g at the center of mass and 2 g at the feet applied continuously (cAG) or intermittently in 6 epochs of 5 min each, separated by 3 min breaks (iAG), or non-centrifuged control (CTRL). Cardiorespiratory demand during centrifugation was assessed at the beginning (HDT3) and end (HDT60) of the bed rest phase via spirometry and heart rate monitoring, leg muscle activation was monitored via electromyography. Results: On average, analyses of variance revealed that heart rate during centrifugation increased by 40% (iAG) and 60% (cAG) compared to resting values (p < 0.001), while oxygen uptake did not change significantly (p = 0.96). There was a preference for calf over knee extensor muscle activation (active time soleus 57 ± 27%, gastrocnemius medialis 45 ± 27% and vastus lateralis 27 ± 27%, p < 0.001), with large inter-individual differences in leg muscle active time. AG could not prevent the increase in resting heart rate after bed rest. For most of the recorded parameters, there were little differences between cAG and iAG, with the increase in heart rate during centrifugation being a notable exception (greater increase for cAG, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Daily 30 min bouts of artificial gravity elicited by centrifugation put a substantial demand on the heart as a pump without increasing oxygen consumption. If centrifugation is to be used as a countermeasure for the deteriorating effects of microgravity on physical performance, we recommend combining it with strenuous exercise.

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“…There is a large interest in designing countermeasures to prevent or mitigate microgravity-induced muscle wasting and dysfunction (Pavy-Le Traon et al 2007;Rittweger et al 2015). An integrated intervention consisting of amino acid/protein supplementation and exercise has been recommended to sustain muscle mass during prolonged bed rest (Blottner et al 2014;English and Paddon-Jones 2010) and recently we showed that a WP plus potassium bicarbonate (KHCO 3 ) supplement attenuated the reduction in muscle oxidative capacity following 19 days of bed rest (Bosutti et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of 21 days of bed rest and whey protein supplementation on plantar flexor muscle fatigue resistance during repeated shortening contractions

et al. 2020

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Purpose Space flight and bed rest (BR) lead to a rapid decline in exercise capacity. Whey protein plus potassium bicarbonate diet-supplementation (NUTR) could attenuate this effect by improving oxidative metabolism. We evaluated the impact of 21-day BR and NUTR on fatigue resistance of plantar flexor muscles (PF) during repeated shortening contractions, and whether any change was related to altered energy metabolism and muscle oxygenation. Methods Ten healthy men received a standardized isocaloric diet with (n = 5) or without (n = 5) NUTR. Eight bouts of 24 concentric plantar flexions (30 s each bout) with 20 s rest between bouts were employed. PF muscle size was assessed by means of peripheral quantitative computed tomography. PF muscle volume was assessed with magnetic resonance imaging. PF muscle force, contraction velocity, power and surface electromyogram signals were recorded during each contraction, as well as energy metabolism (31 P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and oxygenation (near-infrared spectroscopy). Cardiopulmonary parameters were measured during an incremental cycle exercise test. Results BR caused 10-15% loss of PF volume that was partly recovered 3 days after re-ambulation, as a consequence of fluid redistribution. Unexpectedly, PF fatigue resistance was not affected by BR or NUTR. BR induced a shift in muscle metabolism toward glycolysis and some signs of impaired muscle oxygen extraction. NUTR did not attenuate the BRinduced-shift in energy metabolism. Conclusions Twenty-one days' BR did not impair PF fatigue resistance, but the shift to glycolytic metabolism and indications of impaired oxygen extraction may be early signs of developing reduced muscle fatigue resistance.

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Short-arm centrifugation as a partially effective musculoskeletal countermeasure during 5-day head-down tilt bed rest—results from the BRAG1 study

Abstract: The present study yielded succinct catabolic effects upon muscle and bone metabolism that were un-prevented by AG. The preservation of vertical jump performance by AG in this study is likely caused by central nervous rather than by peripheral musculoskeletal effects.

Cited by 33 publications

References 34 publications

Human Pathophysiological Adaptations to the Space Environment

Human Pathophysiological Adaptations to the Space Environment

Cardiorespiratory and Neuromuscular Demand of Daily Centrifugation: Results From the 60-Day AGBRESA Bed Rest Study

Effects of 21 days of bed rest and whey protein supplementation on plantar flexor muscle fatigue resistance during repeated shortening contractions

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