Biomechanics and Sports Science Case Study

Preparing for Mars, starting with the spine

Researchers at Northumbria University are studying spinal conditions in low gravity to create exercises for astronauts that will take extended space fights.

Pioneering motion capture since 1984. Case Study

Preparing for Mars

If current predictions hold, at some point in the less taxing than the gravity on Earth, but the With the conditions established, Northumbria next 20 years humans will walk on Mars. It will shift from zero-G to any gravity could provoke still needed to create a practical means to be a defning moment for the human race, but serious issues. record participants under zero-G which meant before we can explore our nearest neighboring using specialized equipment, including 14 planet there are several problems we have yet Space agencies around the world are also Vicon Vertex optical motion capture cameras. to solve – including how to stay healthy during preparing for a return to the moon, which may The high-speed equipment was capable of extended periods away from Earth’s gravity. eventually lead to a semi-permanent presence withstanding the violent shifts in the parabolic on the lunar surface, or at least frequent trips fight while capturing precise -- and often While joints and muscles can all be afected between the moon and an orbital station. unpredictable -- movements of its subjects. by the absence of gravity, a major concern Even though the lunar gravity is just 0.16G, the The team also created a bespoke rig to hold for astronauts who spend time in space is change between gravity conditions could also everything in place. the spine. When you factor in the possibility cause physical issues if not addressed. of humans spending months in low gravity Northumbria used a Delsys Trigno system -- followed by heavy exertion under the gravity With the moon and Mars both targeted for for the assessment of spinal muscle activity of Mars and then another lengthy period of human visitation, ESA began accepting bids using fne-wire electrodes, with the data time spent on low gravity on the lengthy return for research projects to study the efects of streaming live into Vicon’s Nexus software. The trip -- those spinal issues go from worrying reduced gravity on the body. Northumbria’s tests were so demanding and thorough, not to to mission critical. To help prepare future proposal to look at how reduced gravity afects mention unique, that Northumbria’s feedback astronauts, Northumbria University’s Aerospace spinal postural control was selected over actually helped Vicon create future updates for Medicine and Rehabilitation Laboratory, in several others, and in June 2018 it began tests. the software. association with the European Space Agency (ESA), is working on creating a new set of In order to design exercises for a low-gravity To measure the gravity levels during each exercises for astronauts to engage with under or gravity-free environment, those conditions parabolic maneuver, Northumbria also used zero-G. must be sim ulated and data must be recorded three IMeasureU inertial sensors attached to from multiple angles. It also requires working The current record holder for the longest the custom rack in order to monitor and detect on a unique type of plane that is afectionately the target levels of gravity. consecutive time spent in space is Russian known as the “vomit comet.” cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who spent 438 While the goal of this particular test was to days on Russia’s Mir Space Station in 1994-95. To begin, the research team from Northumbria, help astronauts while in space, it is also a Although he eventually made a full recovery led by Professor Nick Caplan, secured the part of a bigger research program focused on after returning to Earth, his time in space services of a plane capable of parabolic fight. maintaining the health of the spinal muscles showed that without gravity the body begins The exact model has changed over the years, that contribute to posture control. Lower to experience the same efects found in the but the concept remains the same – a plane elderly, including both bone density loss and back problems are becoming an increasingly large enough to house multiple people climbs common complaint, and spinal muscular muscular deterioration. This is especially rapidly, and when it reaches a nose up angle pronounced in the spine, and many astronauts deterioration is caused by a host of factors of about 45 degrees, the engines are cut beyond aging, including a sedentary lifestyle. have reported severe lower back pains and the plane enters a freefall state as it fies following their time in space. This form of research is meant to help that over the top of a parabolic curve. When the group as well. Astronauts on the International Space Station plane reaches a nose down angle of about currently spend 2.5 hours per day following a 45 degrees, the engines switch back on and During its time on the vomit comet, strict workout schedule, but most still need to the pilots pull the plane out of its dive. While Northumbria collected a huge amount of data undergo rigorous physical therapy when they the plane completes the parabolic arc, the that the team -- now frmly back on the ground return to Earth. Fortunately for the astronauts, passengers are essentially in freefall, which -- is currently analyzing. The researchers will following their return to Earth’s 1G environment, in a contained environment can be used to use the data to create a series of exercises astronauts are not expected to engage in simulate zero-G. Each weightless period lasts specifcally designed to help strengthen and strenuous activity. A trip to Mars could take no more than 25 seconds, so a typical parabolic maintain spinal muscles in partial gravity, months, and when they arrive, the frst humans fight repeats the maneuver between 40-60 although the results may have a larger impact on Mars will need to land and work under its times, with 65 seconds spent climbing followed on spinal conditioning for those of us trapped 0.38 gravity. That’s obviously signifcantly by under 30 seconds falling. under Earth’s 1G.

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