a) Information generated may be used to develop a space flight study designed to provide evidence to enhance safety and efficacy of exercise prescriptions used to prevent and reverse osteoporotic changes and muscle loss associated with aging on earth. Despite the numerous studies in the literature showing exercise equipment that provides high constant concentric and eccentric loads increases muscle strength and bone mass, many exercise guidelines continue to state impact is desirable for bone maintenance. Impact is contraindicated in individuals with arthritis and joint injuries. Osteoporotic individuals are cautioned to avoid weight lifting exercises in which variations in posture can cause skeletal overload. Use of the ISS ARED with the flywheel disengaged to demonstrate that high constant loads (without impact or variable peaks) maintains bone will provide the needed public demonstration of safe and effective exercises for the aging population. Correcting misperceptions about the musculoskeletal system's need for impact and high transient loads will enable physicians and exercise scientists and specialists to develop safe and effective exercise guidelines for the aging population. The first step in this activity is to provide objective evidence (force curves) that disengagement of the flywheel on the ARED, use of back support for hip exercises, and a modified lifting technique in which both legs are used for the concentric contraction and single leg is used for the eccentric contraction provides high sustained forces with an optimal eccentric force of 100% to 110% of the eccentric force.#Hardware requirements for exercise will be defined to reduce complexity of design requirements and increase operator safety.
More »Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Johnson Space Center (JSC) | Lead Organization | NASA Center | Houston, Texas |