Effects of spaceflight on the musculoskeletal system: NIH and NASA future directions

Prolonged bed rest, undertaken by volunteers or resulting from injury and disease, can impair bone and muscle function and structure; extended travel in space also induces these effects. Fluid shifts and disrupted fluid balance may also contribute to observed musculoskeletal aberrations in the weightless environment. Some molecular and cellular events involved in the loading and unloading of the musculoskeletal system are under neural and endocrine influence or control, whereas other events are influenced by local growth factors. Studies are in progress to develop interventions that preserve or improve musculoskeletal integrity in 1g. The NIAMS and NASA are interested in basic and clinical studies of the influence of microgravity on the musculoskeletal system. The interagency workshop results form the basis for new collaborative and cooperative research emphases for the biomedical community under a broad agreement between the National Institutes of Health and NASA.