The Astronaut Microgravity Model for the Assessment of Deep Muscle Fibre Atrophy in the Aetiology of Low Back Pain

The researchers will utilise microgravity to verify a biomechanical model, constructed by the team members, to study assumed changes in the functions of the deep back muscles as an effect of disuse. They will also investigate the pressure / spinal-length relationship: Hypotheses related to atrophy of specific muscles, to the effect of functional strength of others, as well as to the reasons for changes in spine length during weightlessness, will be examined. This research whilst being invaluable to astronauts, has the potential to help our general understanding of spinal physiology, and could provide inportant information resulting in improved treatments of back problems in terrestrial patients.

U.K Based researchers involved in this project

M. C. Morrisey

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