| Abstrakt: |
BACKGROUND: Deconditioning induced via spaceflight is most effectively attenuated through in-flight exercise training. Throughout its evolution, NASA has implemented advances to exercise countermeasures, culminating in the triad of devices currently used on the International Space Station (ISS): a treadmill (T2), cycle ergometer (CEVIS), and resistance exercise device (ARED). Despite high-quality devices and prescriptions, many astronauts experience reductions in aerobic capacity (VO2peak pre-post mean change: -10%) and strength (knee isokinetic pre-post mean change: -15%). As NASA moves towards exploration missions, imposing size, power, and time constraints on exercise systems in addition to physically demanding surface extravehicular activities (EVAs), providing robust capabilities to protect performance should be prioritized. OVERVIEW: Future missions to the Lunar and Martian surfaces will include EVAs requiring ambulation and greater physical exertion than those in Apollo missions. While exercise device concepts planned for exploration missions include resistive and aerobic capabilities, ambulation is not protected. Specifically, the countermeasure planned for Artemis Lunar transit is a flywheel device, which provides both exercise modalities through one resistive cable. While more robust than the flywheel, the devices planned for the Lunar orbital space station and subsequent Mars habitats will provide distinct aerobic and resistance modalities capable of achieving high intensities, but also do not include a treadmill. Recent spaceflight research suggests that greater in-flight running intensity and volume protect against aerobic capacity and strength loss; however, this has not been experimentally confirmed. The Exploration Exercise Treadmill Requirements study is currently underway, aiming to determine the effects of exercising without a treadmill on aerobic capacity, strength, bone density, and sensorimotor function during long-duration spaceflight. DISCUSSION: Providing running capabilities on exploration missions may help maintain astronaut fitness and reduce injury. Studies quantifying the effects of using exploration exercise devices are in progress, which will provide critical recommendations on whether a treadmill is a necessary component of the in-flight training regime. This presentation will discuss the capabilities of exploration exercise devices and potential implications of not having running capabilities during spaceflight. Learning Objectives 1. The audience will learn about the progression of exercise devices used by astronauts in-flight since the initiation of the space program and how these have contributed to mitigating spaceflight-induced physical deconditioning. 2. The audience will learn about the in-flight exercise capabilities currently planned for future exploration missions and how this may impact the extent of physical deconditioning experienced during spaceflight. 3. The audience will learn about the physical demands of extravehicular activities (EVAs) planned for future missions to the Lunar and Martian surfaces and how in-flight exercise capabilities may dictate mission success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
