The Effect of the Gravity Loading Countermeasure Skinsuit Upon Movement and Strength

Carvil, Phil; Attias, Julia; Evetts, Simon; Waldie, James; Green, David Andrew

doi:10.1519/jsc.0000000000001460

Cited by 25 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…To address the Pengvin Suit's limitations, the Gravity Loading Countermeasure SkinSuit (GLCS) was conceived to produce “1 Gz” using elastic fibers to generate multi-stage tension (that accumulates according to the proportion of body mass) in the vertical axis toward the feet (Waldie and Newman, 2011 ). Following various prototypes, the Mk III GLCS was found to provide ~0.7 Gz (measured at the feet) and shown to be compatible with acute strength (Carvil et al, 2017a ) and aerobic exercise (Attias et al, 2017 ). Following several critical design and material innovations, the Mk VI SkinSuit was developed by ESA's Space Medicine Office and King's College London to specifically address whether the modified SkinSuit could reduce in-flight spinal elongation, without being uncomfortable or interfering with nominal ISS spaceflight activities.…”

Section: Spinal Loading In-flightmentioning

confidence: 98%

Spinal Health during Unloading and Reloading Associated with Spaceflight

Green

Scott

2018

Front. Physiol.

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Spinal elongation and back pain are recognized effects of exposure to microgravity, however, spinal health has received relatively little attention. This changed with the report of an increased risk of post-flight intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation and subsequent identification of spinal pathophysiology in some astronauts post-flight. Ground-based analogs, particularly bed rest, suggest that a loss of spinal curvature and IVD swelling may be factors contributing to unloading-induced spinal elongation. In flight, trunk muscle atrophy, in particular multifidus, may precipitate lumbar curvature loss and reduced spinal stability, but in-flight (ultrasound) and pre- and post-flight (MRI) imaging have yet to detect significant IVD changes. Current International Space Station missions involve short periods of moderate-to-high spinal (axial) loading during running and resistance exercise, superimposed upon a background of prolonged unloading (microgravity). Axial loading acting on a dysfunctional spine, weakened by anatomical changes and local muscle atrophy, might increase the risk of damage/injury. Alternatively, regular loading may be beneficial. Spinal pathology has been identified in-flight, but there are few contemporary reports of in-flight back injury and no recent studies of post-flight back injury incidence. Accurate routine in-flight stature measurements, in- and post-flight imaging, and tracking of pain and injury (herniation) for at least 2 years post-flight is thus warranted. These should be complemented by ground-based studies, in particular hyper buoyancy floatation (HBF) a novel analog of spinal unloading, in order to elucidate the mechanisms and risk of spinal injury, and to evaluate countermeasures for exploration where injury could be mission critical.

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Section: Spinal Loading In-flightmentioning

confidence: 98%

Spinal Health during Unloading and Reloading Associated with Spaceflight

Green

Scott

2018

Front. Physiol.

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“…Elastic bands, such as Theraband, could be used to perform exercises in three dimensions. In addition, axial loading through the use of skinsuits is a possibility (Carvil et al, 2017). Different combinations of exercise countermeasures would be possible, for example, astronauts could perform exercises while wearing skinsuits, and while using technology based solutions already developed on Earth for conditions such as LBP.…”

Section: Implications For Exercise Countermeasures For Future Human Ementioning

confidence: 99%

State-of-the-Art Exercise Concepts for Lumbopelvic and Spinal Muscles – Transferability to Microgravity

2019

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Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Over the last three decades, changes to key recommendations in clinical practice guidelines for management of LBP have placed greater emphasis on self-management and utilization of exercise programs targeting improvements in function. Recommendations have also suggested that physical treatments for persistent LBP should be tailored to the individual. This mini review will draw parallels between changes, which occur to the neuromuscular system in microgravity and conditions such as LBP which occur on Earth. Prolonged exposure to microgravity is associated with both LBP and muscle atrophy of the intrinsic muscles of the spine, including the lumbar multifidus. The finding of atrophy of spinal muscles has also commonly been reported in terrestrial LBP sufferers. Studying astronauts provides a unique perspective and valuable model for testing the effectiveness of exercise interventions, which have been developed on Earth. One such approach is motor control training, which is a broad term that can include all the sensory and motor aspects of spinal motor function. There is evidence to support the use of this exercise approach, but unlike changes seen in muscles of LBP sufferers on Earth, the changes induced by exposure to microgravity are rapid, and are relatively consistent in nature. Drawing parallels between changes which occur to the neuromuscular system in the absence of gravity and which exercises best restore size and function could help health professionals tailor improved interventions for terrestrial populations.

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“…In general, these countermeasures are specific to individual physiological systems. Cardiovascular countermeasures, for example, have included aerobic and resistive exercise ( Buckey, 2006 ; Trigg, 2013 ), Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) ( Charles and Lathers, 1994 ; Clément and Bukley, 2007 ), fluid loading ( Clément and Bukley, 2007 ), intra-vehicular activity suits ( Kozlovskaya et al, 1995 ; Kozlovskaya and Grigoriev, 2004 ; Waldie and Newman, 2011 ), landing compression garments ( Platts et al, 2009 ), and nutrition and dietary supplements ( Buckey, 2006 ; Smith et al, 2012 ). To date, however, countermeasures have failed to consistently preserve pre-flight levels of physiological function, despite the significant crew time that needs to be allocated to them ( Clément and Pavy-Le Traon, 2004 ; Kozlovskaya and Grigoriev, 2004 ; Buckey, 2006 ; Clément and Bukley, 2007 ; Trappe et al, 2009 ; Lee et al, 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-Term Cardiovascular Response to Short-Radius Centrifugation With and Without Ergometer Exercise

2018

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Artificial gravity (AG) has often been proposed as an integrated multi-system countermeasure to physiological deconditioning associated with extended exposure to reduced gravity levels, particularly if combined with exercise. Twelve subjects underwent short-radius centrifugation along with bicycle ergometry to quantify the short-term cardiovascular response to AG and exercise across three AG levels (0 G or no rotation, 1 G, and 1.4 G; referenced to the subject’s feet and measured in the centripetal direction) and three exercise intensities (25, 50, and 100 W). Continuous cardiovascular measurements were collected during the centrifugation sessions using a non-invasive monitoring system. The cardiovascular responses were more prominent at higher levels of AG and exercise intensity. In particular, cardiac output, stroke volume, pulse pressure, and heart rate significantly increased with both AG level (in most of exercise group combinations, showing averaged increments across exercise conditions of 1.4 L/min/g, 7.6 mL/g, 5.22 mmHg/g, and 2.0 bpm/g, respectively), and workload intensity (averaged increments across AG conditions of 0.09 L/min/W, 0.17 mL/W, 0.22 mmHg/W, and 0.74 bpm/W respectively). These results suggest that the addition of AG to exercise can provide a greater cardiovascular benefit than exercise alone. Hierarchical regression models were fitted to the experimental data to determine dose-response curves of all cardiovascular variables as a function of AG-level and exercise intensity during short-radius centrifugation. These results can inform future studies, decisions, and trade-offs toward potential implementation of AG as a space countermeasure.

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The Effect of the Gravity Loading Countermeasure Skinsuit Upon Movement and Strength

Cited by 25 publications

References 23 publications

Spinal Health during Unloading and Reloading Associated with Spaceflight

Spinal Health during Unloading and Reloading Associated with Spaceflight

State-of-the-Art Exercise Concepts for Lumbopelvic and Spinal Muscles – Transferability to Microgravity

Short-Term Cardiovascular Response to Short-Radius Centrifugation With and Without Ergometer Exercise

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