Title: Development and evaluation of countermeasures to prevent spinal antigravity muscle deconditioning in simulated partial-and micro-gravity
Funder: UK Space Agency

Abstract: Working in micro- or partial-gravity conditions will lead to musculoskeletal deconditioning in astronauts that will increasespinal injury risk and reduce operational effectiveness, risking mission failure. Our study will demonstrate how (1) partialgravity influences spinal antigravity muscle activity and spinal postural control and (2) how artificial gravity and exerciserehabilitation can preserve or restore spinal muscle structure and function. This knowledge will enable effectivecountermeasure development for long duration space exploration beyond low Earth orbit and human habitation of Moonand Mars.Our overall aim is to mitigate injury risk and maintain operational effectiveness in astronauts by understanding how spinalanti-gravity muscles are affected by reduced gravity, and how their condition can be preserved by artificial gravity exposureor recovered through exercise. We will do this through participation in the ISLSWG parabolic flight campaign (2018) andthe NASA/ESA Artificial Gravity Bedrest Study (2018-19) using techniques that we have developed to assess the role ofthese muscles during postural control in low back pain. The project is broken down into three themes. We need to know:1. how partial gravity leads to changes in spinal antigravity muscle activity and spinal posture in order to identify how theymight be affected during long duration habitation of partial gravity environments.2. how daily exposure to artificial gravity during long duration bedrest preserves spinal musculoskeletal structure andpostural control.3. how a two-week exercise rehabilitation intervention using the Functional Re-adaptive Exercise Device following longduration bedrest recovers spinal musculoskeletal structure and postural control

Lay abstract: Professor Nick Caplan and his team are working to mitigate injury risk and maintain operational effectiveness in astronauts by understanding how spinal anti-gravity muscles are affected by reduced gravity, and how their condition can be preserved by artificial gravity exposure or recovered through exercise. This will be done through participation in the International Space Life Sciences Working Group parabolic flight campaign (2018) and the NASA/ESA Artificial Gravity Bedrest Study (2018-19) using techniques that they have developed to assess the role of these muscles during postural control in low back pain. Working in partial gravity conditions (e.g. Moon and Mars) will lead to musculoskeletal deconditioning in astronauts that will increase spinal injury risk and reduce operational effectiveness, risking mission failure. This study will demonstrate how partial gravity influences spinal antigravity muscle activity and spinal postural control. This knowledge will enable effective countermeasure development for long duration human habitation of Moon and Mars. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-uk-projects-look-at-the-impact-of-spaceflight-on-the-human-body

Research activity codes: 2.2 FACTORS RELATING TO PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT;6.7 PHYSICAL
Health categories: MUSCULOSKELETAL