Physiological Benefits of Exercise in Artificial Gravity: A Broadband Countermeasure to Space Flight Related Deconditioning
- Paper number
IAC-07-A1.3.-A1.4.02
- Author
Ms. Jessica Edmonds, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Thomas Jarchow, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Laurence R. Young, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States
- Year
2007
- Abstract
PURPOSE. The future of space exploration lies in the capability of astronauts to travel safely to the moon, Mars, and beyond. Without any countermeasures, we would expect a trip to Mars to result in a loss of nearly 15
METHODOLOGY. As a first-order determination of effectiveness, control and treatment subjects are participating in a four-week exercise program. They either exercise in an upright 1-g position or on a short-radius (2m) centrifuge spinning at 30 RPM, maintaining a target heart rate that is systematically increased over the four weeks. Measurements take place before and after the four-week exercise session and include: lean body mass with respect to body fat, maximal oxygen uptake, quadriceps extension strength, resting metabolic rate, and heart rate and blood pressure for a given work rate. Previous studies have used cycle ergometry for exercise [5-10], but here we use stair-stepping, which may more closely imitate and train the motion of walking. Preparation for the experiments required hardware development of the stepper infrastructure (e.g. a backslider and compact foot-force sensors.) Analysis required moderate software development to analyze cardiovascular parameters and work output.
RESULTS. Stair-stepping on a centrifuge is safe and comfortable. Coriolis forces on the knees while stepping result in medial-lateral deflections of up to 12 cm, but extensive squat studies have shown that such deflections will be tolerable [11]. When stepping at 30 RPM, 13 subjects experienced peak forces of approximately 84
CONCLUSIONS. Exercise on a centrifuge is feasible and safe, and may be as effective as upright exercise in improving physical fitness. These results indicate that such a combination may also be effective as a countermeasure to space flight deconditioning. Centrifugation and exercise may be the comprehensive countermeasure needed to keep astronauts healthy.
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- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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