When astronauts spend long periods of time in space, many surprising and sometimes harmful changes can occur in their bodies. Unfortunately, there are not always ways to avoid or mitigate these effects.
One of these health concerns is the loss of bone density and bone strength due to the effects of microgravity and, to a lesser extent, radiation exposure. A NASA-funded study in 2009 he found that the bone strength of astronauts decreased by at least 14% on average during a six-month stay in space. Other studies have done so found much higher rates of bone loss.
But a new study suggests astronauts and mission planners could use an effective weapon in the fight against bone density loss: jumps and other forms of high-impact exercise.
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Of the 17 astronauts who participated in the new study (opens a new tab), which was published online Thursday (June 30) in Scientific Reports magazine, only eight regained full bone mass density a year after returning from flight. It was found that the loss of bone density was much greater in astronauts who flew on missions of more than six months.
But the researchers also found that astronauts who participated in resistance-based training while in space were able to regain bone mineral density after returning. Thus, the authors propose to add “jump resistance-based exercise that provides high-impact dynamic loads to the legs” to astronauts. existing exercise routines to prevent bone loss and promote bone growth during space flight missions.
NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, an Expedition 40 flight engineer, is training with the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (aRED) at the International Space Station’s Tranquility node. (Image credit: NASA)
“Jumps offer short periods of high-impact dynamic loads that promote osteogenesis [bone growth]”, the researchers wrote, while adding that” neither running, cycling, squatting nor increasing heel volume were associated with bone recovery. “The addition of jumping exercise routines to the Existing exercise regimens of astronauts can prevent bone loss and really reduce the amount of exercise time needed each day, the authors suggest.
Of course, any new jumping regime would require specialized equipment, and space is always limited on board any space flight. “Successful implementation of high-load jump training in orbit will require an exercise device that mitigates the forces transferred to the vehicle, along with an exercise regimen that takes into account the astronaut’s deconditioning,” the researchers wrote in the new study. The authors acknowledge that, since homes are often cramped aboard spaceflight, “exercise equipment will need to be optimized for a smaller footprint.”
Obviously, a study size of 17 astronauts is not exactly conclusive, and the authors point out that much more data is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about the effects of resistance training on astronauts ’bone loss.
The astronauts already exercise regularly while in space to combat the effects of microgravity, and scientists have already tried to feed astronauts genetically modified vegetables to help stimulate bone growth and fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids to help mitigate bone degradation. Because bone loss still affects astronauts on long flights, even more methods are needed to mitigate it.
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