Application of air Pressure Loading to Space Flight Exercise and walking Assistance on Earth

摘要

We believe it may be possible to maintain full musculoskeletal function in space provided higher force levels can be achieved during treadmill exercise in space. Toward this end we are investigating the use of lower body negative pressure (LBNP), and its external force equivalent, upper body positive pressure (UBPP), as a means of applyign combined cardiovascular and musculoskeletal loading to the lower body during treadmill exercise in space. We have hypothesized that normal treadmill walking and running can be adequately simulated in space by this method of loading since gait is primarily governed by travity acting at the center of mass and only secondarily by its distributed action on limb segments.