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Astronaut adherence to exercise-based reconditioning: Psychological considerations and future directions
Carly D McKay1, Martyn Standage1
1Centre for Motivation and Health Behaviour Change, Department for Health, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom.
Musculoskeletal Science & Practice
|March 11, 2017
Summary
Astronauts need to adhere to exercise reconditioning to counter spaceflight effects. Strategies focusing on motivation, realistic expectations, and self-regulation can improve adherence to exercise programs.
Area of Science:
- Spaceflight physiology
- Exercise science
- Behavioral science
Background:
- Spaceflight causes significant physiological and functional deconditioning.
- Exercise-based reconditioning is crucial for astronaut health during and after space missions.
- Limited research exists on astronaut adherence to prescribed reconditioning programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify potential predictors of exercise adherence in spaceflight by examining analogous terrestrial populations.
- To inform strategies for enhancing astronaut adherence to reconditioning programs.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of adherence predictors from sport, clinical rehabilitation, and general exercise contexts.
- Extrapolation of findings to the unique spaceflight environment.
Main Results:
- Key adherence predictors include fostering intrinsic motivation, setting realistic outcome expectancies, developing self-regulation skills, and building strong therapeutic alliances.
- These factors are likely transferable to spaceflight reconditioning.
Conclusions:
- Spaceflight reconditioning programs should incorporate strategies to enhance motivation, self-regulation, and the astronaut-therapist relationship.
- Further research is required to identify spaceflight-specific barriers and facilitators to exercise adherence and to develop targeted interventions.
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