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Supine LBNP exercise maintains exercise capacity in male twins during 30-d bed rest
Stuart M C Lee1, Suzanne M Schneider, Wanda L Boda
1Wyle Laboratories, Inc., Life Sciences Group, Houston, TX 77058, USA. stuart.lee-1@mail.nasa.gov
Introduction:
Exercise capacity is reduced after both short- and long-duration exposures to microgravity. Previously, we have documented that supine treadmill exercise within lower-body negative pressure (LBNP(ex)) maintains upright exercise responses in men after 5 and 15 d of bed rest, as a simulation of microgravity.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether LBNP(ex) would protect against loss of upright exercise capacity (VO2peak) and sprint performance during a longer-duration bed rest.
Methods:
Eight sets of male twins participated in 30 d of bed rest. Within each twin pair, one was randomly assigned to a control group (CON) who performed no exercise, and the other was assigned to an exercise group (EX) that performed a 40-min interval (40-80% pre-bed rest VO2peak) LBNP(ex) (55 +/- 4 mm Hg) protocol, plus 5 min of resting LBNP, 6 d.wk(-1). LBNP produced footward force equivalent to 1.0-1.2 body weight. Before and after bed rest, subjects completed an upright graded exercise test to volitional fatigue and a sprint test of 30.5 m.
Results:
After bed rest, VO2peak was decreased significantly in the CON subjects (-23 +/- 4%, P < 0.01) but was maintained in the EX subjects (-3 +/- 3%). Sprint time was increased in the CON subjects (24 +/- 8%, P < 0.05) but was maintained in the EX group (8 +/- 2%).
Conclusions:
This exercise countermeasure protocol may help prevent microgravity-induced deconditioning during long-duration space flight.
