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Hypergravity exercise training on a human‐powered centrifuge
Author(s) -
Blank Jason Michael,
Yang Yifan,
Hargens Alan R.,
Macias Brandon R.,
Caiozzo Vincent J.,
Hicks James W.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.752.7
Subject(s) - hypergravity , heart rate , spaceflight , medicine , presyncope , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , orthostatic vital signs , blood pressure , engineering , aerospace engineering
Exposure to microgravity during spaceflight results in changes in cardiovascular function that impair normal function on return to a 1G environment. The Space Cycle is a short‐arm human‐powered centrifuge that couples exercise with hypergravity as a potential countermeasure for loss of exercise capacity and orthostatic tolerance in microgravity. Healthy, sedentary men (n = 5) trained for 4 weeks by pedaling the Space Cycle 4 days/week for 45 minutes/session. Target training intensity was set at 80% max heart rate and 2.5 +Gz measured at the subject's feet. Training intensity during the workout was monitored by the subject using a commercial heart rate monitor. VO2max was measured before and after the training program using an incremental bicycle ergometer test to volitional fatigue. Orthostatic tolerance was tested using simultaneous 60 degree head‐up tilt and graded levels of lower‐body negative pressure to presyncope. Space Cycle training increased VO2max from 38 ± 7 to 43 ± 6 ml/kg/min (p<0.01). Four of five subjects improved orthostatic tolerance time following training. All subjects completed the training program and noted increasing comfort with the rotational motion of the Space Cycle as the training program progressed. Funded by NSBRI MA00403 (VJC) and MA00801 (JWH).