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Effects of exercise countermeasures on multisystem function in long duration spaceflight astronauts.
Jessica M Scott1,2, Alan H Feiveson3, Kirk L English4
1Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA. scottj1@mskcc.org.
NPJ Microgravity
|February 3, 2023
Summary
Current exercise routines do not fully prevent spaceflight deconditioning. Individual responses vary significantly, highlighting the need for improved astronaut health and performance strategies for future space missions.
Area of Science:
- Spaceflight physiology
- Exercise countermeasures
- Astronaut health
Background:
- Spaceflight causes multisystem deconditioning.
- Exercise training is a primary countermeasure.
- Long-duration missions pose significant health challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate the effectiveness of current exercise countermeasures.
- Assess multisystem deconditioning in astronauts.
- Identify risks for future space exploration.
Main Methods:
- Studied a cohort of 46 astronauts on long-duration missions.
- Monitored multisystem function pre- and post-flight.
- Analyzed ~600 minutes/week of aerobic and resistance exercise.
Main Results:
- Exercise did not fully prevent multisystem deconditioning.
- Observed significant inter-individual variability in responses (-30% to +5%).
- Estimated up to 17% of astronauts may experience performance-limiting deconditioning.
Conclusions:
- Current exercise countermeasures require refinement.
- Adjunct interventions or enhanced preflight capacity may be necessary.
- Improved strategies are crucial for astronaut health and performance on exploration missions.
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