Untersuchung und Beurteilung der Parabelflugtauglichkeit

Ullrich, Oliver; Bühler, Silja

doi:10.1055/a-0990-3429

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 4 publications

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“…Twelve healthy individuals (mean age: 33 years ±7 years; six females) with no acute LBP participated in this study. The participants passed required aviation medical screening during which neural or musculoskeletal disorders were excluded ( Ullrich and Buhler, 2019 ). The spinal motor control measurements were conducted during the European Space Agency’s (ESA) 74th and 76th partial gravity parabolic flight campaigns (PFCs) in Paderborn, Germany operated by Novespace (Bordeaux, France) on an Airbus A310 ZERO-G. All participants provided written, informed consent prior to inclusion in the study.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lunar and mars gravity induce similar changes in spinal motor control as microgravity

Swanenburg

Easthope

Meinke³

et al. 2023

Front. Physiol.

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Introduction: Once more, plans are underway to send humans to the Moon or possibly even to Mars. It is therefore, important to know potential physiological effects of a prolonged stay in space and to minimize possible health risks to astronauts. It has been shown that spinal motor control strategies change during microgravity induced by parabolic flight. The way in which spinal motor control strategies change during partial microgravity, such as that encountered on the Moon and on Mars, is not known.Methods: Spinal motor control measurements were performed during Earth, lunar, Mars, and micro-gravity conditions and two hypergravity conditions of a parabola. Three proxy measures of spinal motor control were recorded: spinal stiffness of lumbar L3 vertebra using the impulse response, muscle activity of lumbar flexors and extensors using surface electromyography, and lumbar curvature using two curvature distance sensors placed at the upper and lower lumbar spine. The participants were six females and six males, with a mean age of 33 years (standard deviation: 7 years).Results: Gravity condition had a statistically significant (Friedmann tests) effect spinal stiffness (p < 0.001); on EMG measures (multifidus (p = 0.047), transversus abdominis (p < 0.001), and psoas (p < 0.001) muscles) and on upper lumbar curvature sensor (p < 0.001). No effect was found on the erector spinae muscle (p = 0.063) or lower curvature sensor (p = 0.170). Post hoc tests revealed a significant increase in stiffness under micro-, lunar-, and Martian gravity conditions (all p’s < 0.034). Spinal stiffness decreased under both hypergravity conditions (all p’s ≤ 0.012) and decreased during the second hypergravity compared to the first hypergravity condition (p = 0.012).Discussion: Micro-, lunar-, and Martian gravity conditions resulted in similar increases in spinal stiffness, a decrease in transversus abdominis muscle activity, with no change in psoas muscle activity and thus modulation of spinal motor stabilization strategy compared to those observed under Earth’s gravity. These findings suggest that the spine is highly sensitive to gravity transitions but that Lunar and Martian gravity are below that required for normal modulation of spinal motor stabilization strategy and thus may be associated with LBP and/or IVD risk without the definition of countermeasures.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lunar and mars gravity induce similar changes in spinal motor control as microgravity

Swanenburg

Easthope

Meinke³

et al. 2023

Front. Physiol.

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Microgravity and Hypergravity Induced by Parabolic Flight Differently Affect Lumbar Spinal Stiffness

Swanenburg¹,

Langenfeld²,

Easthope

et al. 2020

Front. Physiol.

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The objective of this study was to determine the response of the lumbar spinal motor control in different gravitational conditions. This was accomplished by measuring indicators of lumbar motor control, specifically lumbar spinal stiffness, activity of lumbar extensor and flexor muscles and lumbar curvature, in hypergravity and microgravity during parabolic flights. Three female and five male subjects participated in this study. The mean age was 35.5 years (standard deviation: 8.5 years). Spinal stiffness of the L3 vertebra was measured using impulse response; activity of the erector spinae, multifidi, transversus abdominis, and psoas muscles was recorded using surface electromyography; and lumbar curvature was measured using distance sensors mounted on the back-plate of a full-body harness. An effect of gravity condition on spinal stiffness, activity of all muscles assessed and lumbar curvature ( p ’s < 0.007) was observed (Friedman tests). Post hoc analysis showed a significant reduction in stiffness during hypergravity ( p < 0.001) and an increase in stiffness during microgravity ( p < 0.001). Activity in all muscles significantly increased during hypergravity ( p ’s < 0.001). During microgravity, the multifidi ( p < 0.002) and transversus abdominis ( p < 0.001) increased significantly in muscle activity while no significant difference was found for the psoas ( p = 0.850) and erector spinae muscles ( p = 0.813). Lumbar curvature flattened in hypergravity as well as microgravity, albeit in different ways: during hypergravity, the distance to the skin decreased for the upper ( p = 0.016) and the lower sensor ( p = 0.036). During microgravity, the upper sensor showed a significant increase ( p = 0.016), and the lower showed a decrease ( p = 0.005) in distance. This study emphasizes the role of spinal motor control adaptations in changing gravity conditions. Both hypergravity and microgravity lead to changes in spinal motor control. The decrease in spinal stiffness during hypergravity is interpreted as a shift of the axial load from the spine to the pelvis and thoracic cage. In microgravity, activity of the multifidi and of the psoas muscles seems to ensure the integrity of the spine. Swiss (BASEC-NR: 2018-00051)/French “EST-III” (Nr-ID-RCB: 2018-A011294-51/Nr-CPP: 18.06.09).

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Untersuchung und Beurteilung der Parabelflugtauglichkeit

Cited by 2 publications

References 4 publications

Lunar and mars gravity induce similar changes in spinal motor control as microgravity

Lunar and mars gravity induce similar changes in spinal motor control as microgravity

Microgravity and Hypergravity Induced by Parabolic Flight Differently Affect Lumbar Spinal Stiffness

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