Taking a lie-down for science: new NASA bed-rest study begins in the :envihab at DLR
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Taking a lie-down for science: new NASA bed-rest study begins in the :envihab at DLR
:envihab – DLR's aerospace medical research facility in Cologne
NASA's Sensorimotor Countermeasures Study (SMC), or bed rest study, is being conducted at the aerospace medical research facility :envihab. Test subjects live in single rooms in the test subject ward, where they are cared for around the clock by their own study team and the participating scientists. All examinations, tests and experiments take place on the ward or in the neighbouring parts of the building.
Future crewed space missions will extend far beyond the International Space Station ISS, heading to destinations such as the Moon or Mars. Arriving at these locations entails significantly longer journeys and, once there, astronauts will encounter entirely different conditions once they land. Unlike on Earth, where a large support team is available, astronauts will have to manage independently. This presents a particular challenge as the effects of microgravity on the body can disrupt coordination and balance, among other things. Such impairments increase the risk of injuries from stumbling or unaccustomed movements, potentially jeopardising the mission. To mitigate this risk, we at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are researching possible countermeasures through various training methods as part of NASA's new bed-rest study, the Sensorimotor Countermeasures Study (SMC).
60 days of bed rest with the head lower than the feet
Toilet 'visits', showers, meals and all training activities, as well as the experiments, are conducted while lying down
Following a two-week familiarisation and preparation phase, which included numerous tests and experiments, our test subjects have now taken to their beds. These beds are inclined at a six-degree angle towards the head, where they will remain in a head-down position for a total of 60 days. During this time, all examinations, tests and daily activities such as eating and showering will be conducted lying down. The six-degree head-down tilt causes bodily fluids to shift in a manner similar to what astronauts experience in space. This is why the six-degree head-down position serves as a model for simulating microgravity. Changing the body position affects, for example, the sense of balance, coordination, muscle and bone metabolism and the cardiovascular system. In the current SMC study, our test subjects are testing various training methods to prevent or at least mitigate these effects on the body. A particular focus of the study is on balance, feeling and movement sequences.
A gauge indicates whether the bed is at the correct six-degree incline towards the head
The inclination of the beds by six degrees towards the head causes fluids in the body to shift in almost exactly the same way as they do for astronauts in space. Various countermeasures are designed to counteract the negative effects on coordination and balance.
Over the next few weeks, various participants in the SMC study will be posting here on the DLR blog. Test subjects, researchers and the various teams that ensure everything runs smoothly will be providing insights into their lives in bed and their work.
Blood pressure monitoring in the test subject's room
Every morning, the vital parameters of the test subjects are measured, including blood pressure. The test subjects are also weighed daily using a bed scale and their body temperature is recorded. A daily medical check-up is conducted to ensure the health of the test participants.
Examinations using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
The physical changes caused by the six-degree head-down position, which are similar to those experienced by astronauts in space, are examined using imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), among other things. In addition, tests on cardiovascular function, balance, muscle strength, metabolism, memory, regular blood samples and eye examinations take place throughout the study.
