Gastrocnemius medialis contractile behavior during running differs between simulated Lunar and Martian gravities

Scientific Reports, vol. 11, pp. 22555

Abstract

The international partnership of space agencies has agreed to proceed forward to the Moon sustainably. Activities on the Lunar surface (0.16 g) will allow crewmembers to advance the exploration skills needed when expanding human presence to Mars (0.38 g). Whilst data from actual hypogravity activities are limited to the Apollo missions, simulation studies have indicated that ground reaction forces, mechanical work, muscle activation, and joint angles decrease with declining gravity level. However, these alterations in locomotion biomechanics do not necessarily scale to the gravity level, the reduction in gastrocnemius medialis activation even appears to level off around 0.2 g, while muscle activation pattern remains similar. Thus, it is difficult to predict whether gastrocnemius medialis contractile behavior during running on Moon will basically be the same as on Mars. Therefore, this study investigated lower limb joint kinematics and gastrocnemius medialis behavior during running at 1 g, simulated Martian gravity, and simulated Lunar gravity on the vertical treadmill facility. The results indicate that hypogravity-induced alterations in joint kinematics and contractile behavior still persist between simulated running on the Moon and Mars. This contrasts with the concept of a ceiling effect and should be carefully considered when evaluating exercise prescriptions and the transferability of locomotion practiced in Lunar gravity to Martian gravity.

Authors 10

1. Charlotte Richter corresponding Aachen Department of Medical Engineering and Technomathematics

   German Sport University Cologne · FH Aachen

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medical Engineering and Technomathematics, University of Applied Sciences Aachen, Aachen, Germany. cr.publications@planet3.de

   Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany. cr.publications@planet3.de

   Department of Medical Engineering and Technomathematics, University of Applied Sciences Aachen, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany

2. Bjoern Braunstein

   German Sport University Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Health and Integrative Physiology in Space (CHIPS), Cologne, Germany

   German Research Centre of Elite Sport, Cologne, Germany

   Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany

   Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany

3. Benjamin Staeudle Aachen Department of Medical Engineering and Technomathematics

   German Sport University Cologne · FH Aachen

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medical Engineering and Technomathematics, University of Applied Sciences Aachen, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany

4. Julia Attias

   King's College London

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre of Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, King's College London, London, UK

5. Alexander Suess

   European Space Agency · European Astronaut Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   European Astronaut Centre (EAC), European Space Agency, Space Medicine Team (HRE-OM), Cologne, Germany

6. Tobias Weber

   European Space Agency · European Astronaut Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   European Astronaut Centre (EAC), European Space Agency, Space Medicine Team (HRE-OM), Cologne, Germany

   KBR GmbH, Cologne, Germany

7. Katya N. Mileva

   London South Bank University

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UK

8. Jörn Rittweger

   University of Cologne · Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

   Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany

9. David Andrew Green

   King's College London · European Space Agency · European Astronaut Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre of Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, King's College London, London, UK

   European Astronaut Centre (EAC), European Space Agency, Space Medicine Team (HRE-OM), Cologne, Germany

   KBR GmbH, Cologne, Germany

10. Kirsten Albracht Aachen Department of Medical Engineering and Technomathematics Institute for Bioengineering

    German Sport University Cologne · FH Aachen

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Medical Engineering and Technomathematics, University of Applied Sciences Aachen, Aachen, Germany

    Institute for Bioengineering, University of Applied Sciences Aachen, Aachen, Germany

    Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany