OBJECTIVES:
Investigators aim to access microgravity-induced biomechanical muscle parameters such as tone, tension, elasticity, relaxation, and creep on the relaxed muscles of the human body by means of the non-invasive MyotonPRO
TM device to access skeletal muscle status for better health monitoring of crewmembers during preflight training, inflight activities, and post-flight reconditioning.
This study has the following specific aims:
- To better understand the fundamental adaptation mechanisms related to the yet ill-defined structure-function-biomechanics interrelations of the human resting myofascial system exposed to long-term continuous microgravity.
- To gain a better and more comprehensive evaluation of the crewmembers performance control and fitness for variable mission duties (inflight monitoring).
- To perform routine monitoring on crewmembers before launch and after landing.
- To monitor in relation to preflight data the magnitude of changes throughout the full cycle of deconditioning on the International Space Station (ISS) and post-flight reconditioning.
- To monitor on which level due to regular exercise the astronauts will be able to maintain and even up the parameters measured by the MyotonPROTM on Earth versus the ISS.
- To monitor the microgravity changes of different tissue and muscle types.
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APPROACH:
In this experiment, ten different body measure points of the resting human musculature (superficial muscle) and myofascial system (fascia, tendons) will be tested by crewmembers from only one body side (left or right) before, during, and after a space flight. Measurements will be performed by digital palpation using the non-invasive and mobile MyotonPRO
TM device followed by high resolution ultrasound imaging of body skin measure points to monitor/quantify volume changes of the skin, muscle, and tendon/fascia. Inflight sessions will include ground-based real-time video monitoring from each subject, which will be downlinked after the first and last in-flight session for analysis. In addition, blood draws will be done pre- in-, and postflight. Pre- and postflight surface electromyography and dynamometer strength tests will be performed on two lower leg muscles such as gastrocnemius or tibialis anterior followed by pre – and postflight calf volume via MRI imaging.
RESULTS:
This study is in progress. NASA does not have an agreement to archive data from International Partners.