Living in outer space takes a toll on the human body, resulting in muscle loss and weakened bones. What must astronauts do to avoid becoming ‘flabby’ when they return to Earth?
Andreas Mogensen, a Danish astronaut, made history as the first European to pilot the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) on August 27.
For the next six months, Mogensen will conduct over 30 research activities, including 3D printing in space and supporting astronauts’ mental health.
However, one experiment has captured the attention of scientists due to its potential to provide better healthcare not only for astronauts but also for people on Earth.
This device aims to combat muscle loss in astronauts, an inevitable medical consequence of long-term space missions.
Previous research has shown that astronauts aged 30 to 50 who spend six months in space will lose half of their muscle strength, essentially returning to Earth with muscles resembling those of an 80-year-old.
The experiment is expected to mitigate this effect by electrically stimulating specific muscles so that they regain mass and, in turn, strength. Ultimately, this stimulation is expected to accelerate recovery.
Scientists suggest that this method could be useful in counteracting the microgravity effects on human explorers and keeping them healthy.
The method, known as Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES), is not new.
On Earth, it is a well-known rehabilitation strategy for patients who experience prolonged physical inactivity, such as those diagnosed with spinal cord injuries or cerebral palsy.
However, in space, this method has never been tested.
Two Groups
Mogensen is the first subject in this experiment. He is part of the control group, representing regular astronauts who may receive this treatment in the future but will not undergo electrical stimulation.
Instead, he will take measurements to assess the health of his muscles before and after a six-month flight to provide baseline statistics for future astronauts who will undergo NMES treatment during space missions.
The second group of astronauts will undergo the same muscle health measurements as Mogensen after receiving electrical stimulation.
The results from both groups will then be compared to evaluate whether the treatment improves muscle health in the second group, say the researchers.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has not yet decided on other subjects for this experiment, citing Space.
This new method is expected to complement rather than replace the exercise regimen currently followed by astronauts during their space missions.
On the ISS, the crew exercises for at least two hours each day, which is an essential preventive measure against muscle atrophy.
Special Exercises
According to a 2019 study, these exercises are tailored to the space agency sending astronauts and are also individualized.
For example, astronauts from the United States, Japan, China, and Canada undergo resistance and aerobic training, while Russian astronauts prefer using a treadmill and stationary bikes, among other equipment.
A study monitoring two astronauts during a six-month space flight showed that the crew still experienced muscle loss.
However, they engaged in high-intensity exercise; astronauts ran 500 kilometers with resistance adapted to their body weight.
Therefore, NMES, which requires fewer resources than a mini gym in space, could be an easily accessible and useful system to complement daily workouts, according to the researchers.
Although this method has not reported long-term safety issues so far, it has some limitations.
Sometimes, it may not activate all muscles, according to the same 2019 study. Furthermore, the effects of electrical stimulation on certain organs that deteriorate in space, such as those related to the skeletal and cardiovascular systems, are not well understood.
