J A Hides1, G Lambrecht2,3, W R Stanton4, V Damann5. 1. Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Mary Mackillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Level 1, 631 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia. Julie.hides@acu.edu.au. 2. Praxis für Physiotherapie und Osteopathische Techniken, Kaiserstrasse 34, 53721, Siegburg, Germany. 3. Wyle GmbH, Abin-Kobis Strasse 4, 51147, Cologne, Germany. 4. Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Mary Mackillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Level 1, 631 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia. 5. European Space Agency Space-Medicine Office, European Astronaut Centre, Linder Hoehe, 51147, Cologne, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE: In microgravity, muscle atrophy occurs in the intrinsic muscles of the spine, with changes also observed in the abdominal muscles. Exercises are undertaken on the International Space Station and on Earth following space flight to remediate these effects. Similar effects have been seen on Earth in prolonged bed rest studies and in people with low back pain (LBP). The aim of this case report was to examine the effects of microgravity, exercise in microgravity and post-flight rehabilitation on the size of the multifidus and antero-lateral abdominal muscles. METHODS: Ultrasound imaging was used to assess size of the multifidus, transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscles at four time points: pre-flight and after daily rehabilitation on day one (R + 1), day 8 (R + 8) and day 14 (R + 14) after return to Earth (following 6 months in microgravity). RESULTS: Exercises in microgravity maintained multifidus size at L2-L4, however, after spaceflight, size of the multifidus muscle at L5 was reduced, size of the internal oblique muscle was increased and size of transversus abdominis was reduced. Rehabilitation post-space flight resulted in hypertrophy of the multifidus muscle to pre-mission size at the L5 vertebral level and restoration of antero-lateral abdominal muscle size. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise in space can prevent loss of spinal intrinsic muscle size. For the multifidus muscles, effectiveness varied at different levels of the spine. Post-mission rehabilitation targeting specific motor control restored muscle balance between the antero-lateral abdominal and multifidus muscles, similar to results from intervention trials for people with LBP. A limitation of the current investigation is that only one astronaut was studied, however, the microgravity model could be valuable as predictable effects on trunk muscles can be induced and interventions evaluated. Level of Evidence Case series.
PURPOSE: In microgravity, muscle atrophy occurs in the intrinsic muscles of the spine, with changes also observed in the abdominal muscles. Exercises are undertaken on the International Space Station and on Earth following space flight to remediate these effects. Similar effects have been seen on Earth in prolonged bed rest studies and in people with low back pain (LBP). The aim of this case report was to examine the effects of microgravity, exercise in microgravity and post-flight rehabilitation on the size of the multifidus and antero-lateral abdominal muscles. METHODS: Ultrasound imaging was used to assess size of the multifidus, transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscles at four time points: pre-flight and after daily rehabilitation on day one (R + 1), day 8 (R + 8) and day 14 (R + 14) after return to Earth (following 6 months in microgravity). RESULTS: Exercises in microgravity maintained multifidus size at L2-L4, however, after spaceflight, size of the multifidus muscle at L5 was reduced, size of the internal oblique muscle was increased and size of transversus abdominis was reduced. Rehabilitation post-space flight resulted in hypertrophy of the multifidus muscle to pre-mission size at the L5 vertebral level and restoration of antero-lateral abdominal muscle size. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise in space can prevent loss of spinal intrinsic muscle size. For the multifidus muscles, effectiveness varied at different levels of the spine. Post-mission rehabilitation targeting specific motor control restored muscle balance between the antero-lateral abdominal and multifidus muscles, similar to results from intervention trials for people with LBP. A limitation of the current investigation is that only one astronaut was studied, however, the microgravity model could be valuable as predictable effects on trunk muscles can be induced and interventions evaluated. Level of Evidence Case series.
Authors: Daniel L Belavý; Carolyn A Richardson; Stephen J Wilson; Jörn Rittweger; Dieter Felsenberg Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2007-01-01 Impact factor: 3.468
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Authors: Daniel L Belavý; Julie A Hides; Stephen J Wilson; Warren Stanton; Fernando C Dimeo; Jörn Rittweger; Dieter Felsenberg; Carolyn A Richardson Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2008-03-01 Impact factor: 3.468
Authors: Tobias Weber; Dorothée Debuse; Sauro E Salomoni; Edith L Elgueta Cancino; Enrico De Martino; Nick Caplan; Volker Damann; Jonathan Scott; Paul W Hodges Journal: Physiol Rep Date: 2017-03