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Related Experiment Videos

Locomotion in simulated microgravity: gravity replacement loads.

Jean L McCrory1, Heidi A Baron, Sandy Balkin

  • 1Center for Locomotion Studies, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.

Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|July 26, 2002
PubMed
Summary
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Astronauts can tolerate 100% body weight (BW) gravity replacement load (GRL) during treadmill running in microgravity. Higher GRLs increase ground reaction forces and loading rates, crucial for simulating Earth-like exercise.

Area of Science:

  • Space exploration and astronautics
  • Biomechanics and human physiology
  • Exercise science in simulated microgravity

Background:

  • Astronaut locomotion in microgravity requires devices to simulate body weight.
  • Subject Load Devices (SLDs) use gravity replacement load (GRL) transferred via harnesses.
  • This study investigates comfort and biomechanics of treadmill running with varying GRLs and harness designs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess astronaut comfort and ground reaction forces at 60%, 80%, and 100% body weight (BW) GRL.
  • To compare the comfort of two harness designs: shoulder springs only (SSO) and waist and shoulder springs (WSS).
  • To determine if higher GRLs result in greater ground reaction forces and loading rates.

Main Methods:

  • Eight subjects ran on a treadmill in the Penn State Zero Gravity Locomotion Simulator (ZLS).
Keywords:
NASA Discipline MusculoskeletalNon-NASA Center

Related Experiment Videos

  • Exercise was performed at 2.0 m/s for 3 minutes at each GRL (60%, 80%, 100% BW) and with each harness type.
  • Subjective comfort ratings, ground reaction forces, and GRL data were collected.

    • Main Results:

    • 100% BW GRL was tolerated well (2.3/10 comfort rating), with increased discomfort at higher loads.
    • No significant comfort difference was found between SSO and WSS harnesses.
    • Ground reaction force peaks and loading rates increased directly with GRL levels.

    Conclusions:

    • Astronauts can tolerate a 100% BW GRL during simulated microgravity treadmill exercise.
    • The magnitude of ground reaction forces and loading rates during simulated microgravity running is directly proportional to the GRL.
    • Harness design did not significantly impact perceived comfort in this study.