Importance of exercise while in orbit
By Anthony Breitbach, PhD, ATC
Human space flight is a physically demanding
experience. It poses numerous risks, many of them are
very evident, but some are hidden to the naked eye.
The most important hidden health challenge is the bone
density changes that are brought on by prolonged
weightlessness. These bone density changes in the hip
and back are very similar to those suffered by women
with osteoporosis after menopause. Living in a minimal
gravity environment during lengthy missions can set up
astronauts for hip and spine fractures similar to those
incurred by persons suffering from osteoporosis.
NASA has been concerned about this problem
for quite a long time and has held the NASA Bone
Summit, bringing in experts to examine the problem.
The recommendations from this panel of experts
were presented in the Journal of Bone and Mineral
Exercising is a part of the daily routine aboard the International
Space Station. Pictured are astronauts Sunita Williams (above),
and (following page clockwise, from top left) Karen Nyberg, Dan
Photos: NASA
Burbank, Nicole Stott, Joe Acaba and Ron Garan.
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Research in June of 2013. There were four primary
recommendations:
• Astronauts need to have quantitative computed
tomography (QCT) and hip strength assessments
pre- an