Abstract
It is generally held that space travelers experience muscle dysfunction and atrophy during exposure to microgravity. However, observations are scarce and reports somewhat inconsistent with regard to the time course, specificity and magnitude of such changes. Hence, we examined four male astronauts (group mean ~43 years, 86 kg and 183 cm) before and after a 17-day spaceflight (Space Transport System-78). Knee extensor muscle function was measured during maximal bilateral voluntary isometric and iso-inertial concentric, and eccentric actions. Cross-sectional area (CSA) of the knee extensor and flexor, and gluteal muscle groups was assessed by means of magnetic resonance imaging. The decrease in strength (P<0.05) across different muscle actions after spaceflight amounted to 10%. Eight ambulatory men, examined on two occasions 20 days apart, showed unchanged (P>0.05) muscle strength. CSA of the knee extensor and gluteal muscles, each decreased (P<0.05) by 8%. Knee flexor muscle CSA showed no significant (P>0.05) change. The magnitude of these changes concord with earlier results from ground-based studies of similar duration. The results of this study, however, do contrast with the findings of no decrease in maximal voluntary ankle plantar flexor force previously reported in the same crew.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the STS-78 crew and the volunteers for their participation in this study. Space Shuttle Columbia was lost with its crew of seven during re-entry from a mission on 1 February 2003. This paper is dedicated to the astronauts who lost their lives on the last Colombia flight. This study was supported by grants from the Swedish National Space Board, the European Space Agency and National Astronautics and Space Administration, contract NAS 9-18952. The technical assistance by Mr. Sigge Hedberg and Mr. Ole Olsen is acknowledged.
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Tesch, P.A., Berg, H.E., Bring, D. et al. Effects of 17-day spaceflight on knee extensor muscle function and size. Eur J Appl Physiol 93, 463–468 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1236-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1236-9