Publication
Title
Short-arm centrifugation as a partially effective musculoskeletal countermeasure during 5-day head-down tilt bed rest-results from the BRAG1 study
Author
Abstract
Human centrifugation, also called artificial gravity (AG), is proposed as a combined strategy against detrimental effects of microgravity in long-term space missions. This study scrutinized human short-arm centrifugation as countermeasure against musculoskeletal de-conditioning. Eleven healthy male subjects [mean age of 34 (SD 7) years] completed the cross-over trial, including three campaigns of -6A degrees head-down tilt bed rest (HDT) for 5 days, with preceding baseline data collection and recovery phases. Bed rest without AG was used as control condition (Ctrl), and AG with 1 g at the center of mass applied once per day for 30 min in one bout (AG(1x30)) and in 6 bouts of 5 min (AG(6x5), 3-min rest between bouts) as experimental conditions. End-points were muscle strength, vertical jump performance, and biomarkers of bone and protein metabolism. AG(6x5) was better tolerated than AG(1x30). Bone resorption markers CTX, NTX, and DPD all increased by approximately 25 % toward the end of bed rest (P < 0.001), and nitrogen balance decreased by approximately 3 g/day (P < 0.001), without any protection by AG (P > 0.4). Decreases in vertical jump height by 2.1 (SE 0.6) cm after Ctrl bed rest was prevented by either of the AG protocols (P = 0.039). The present study yielded succinct catabolic effects upon muscle and bone metabolism that were un-prevented by AG. The preservation of vertical jump performance by AG in this study is likely caused by central nervous rather than by peripheral musculoskeletal effects.
Language
English
Source (journal)
European journal of applied physiology. - Berlin, 2000, currens
Publication
Berlin : 2015
ISSN
1439-6319 [print]
1439-6327 [online]
DOI
10.1007/S00421-015-3120-1
Volume/pages
115 :6 (2015) , p. 1233-1244
ISI
000354395900006
Pubmed ID
25667067
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 11.06.2015
Last edited 09.10.2023
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