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Kourtidou-Papadeli C, Vernikos J. Lying in bed is bad for your health. Using gravity therapy accelerates rehabilitation. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2024; 40:19-20. [PMID: 38245344 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2023.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Rapid deconditioning and comprehensive deleterious physiological changes that result in bedrest affect every system, function and cell of the body. It was assumed that the inherent inactivity was the cause of the problem, and that exercise would restore good health (Vernikos, 2018). However, numerous studies exploring different types and bouts of exercise once a day during bedrest produced only partial benefits. The usual frequent signal to the vestibular system of the inner ear and the brain, of changing posture, such as standing up regularly during a normal day's activities, goes silent in the microgravity of space, in bedrest or when sitting continuously. Making frequent use of gravity stimulation by standing up often throughout the day accelerates rehabilitation. Though centrifugation has been used in the aerospace field, this is a new approach in clinical practice. Postural change apart, another type of Gravity Therapy is the passive riding of a human centrifuge with or without activity. Accelerated rehabilitation through Gravity Therapy can get patients up and about, back to health sooner, in addition to cutting practical and emotional costs of rehabilitation dramatically. KEY POINT: Other than getting a good night's sleep, spending too much time in bed is bad for your health.
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Kourtidou-Papadeli C, Frantzidis C, Machairas I, Giantsios C, Dermitzakis E, Kantouris N, Konstantinids E, Bamidis P, Vernikos J. Rehabilitation assisted by Space technology-A SAHC approach in immobilized patients-A case of stroke. Front Physiol 2023; 13:1024389. [PMID: 36741804 PMCID: PMC9890276 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1024389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The idea behind the presentation of this case relates to utilizing space technology in earth applications with mutual benefit for both patients confined to bed and astronauts. Deconditioning and the progressiveness of skeletal muscle loss in the absence of adequate gravity stimulus have been of physiological concern. A robust countermeasure to muscle disuse is still a challenge for both immobilized patients and astronauts in long duration space missions. Researchers in the space medicine field concluded that artificial gravity (AG) produced by short-radius centrifugation on a passive movement therapy device, combined with exercise, has been a robust multi-system countermeasure as it re-introduces an acceleration field and gravity load. Methods: A short-arm human centrifuge (SAHC) alone or combined with exercise was evaluated as a novel, artificial gravity device for an effective rehabilitation strategy in the case of a stroke patient with disability. The results reveal valuable information on an individualized rehabilitation strategy against physiological deconditioning. A 73-year-old woman was suddenly unable to speak, follow directions or move her left arm and leg. She could not walk, and self-care tasks required maximal assistance. Her condition was getting worse over the years, also she was receiving conventional rehabilitation treatment. Intermittent short-arm human centrifuge individualized protocols were applied for 5 months, three times a week, 60 treatments in total. Results: It resulted in significant improvement in her gait, decreased atrophy with less spasticity on the left body side, and ability to walk at least 100 m with a cane. Balance and muscle strength were improved significantly. Cardiovascular parameters improved responding to adaptations to aerobic exercise. Electroencephalography (EEG) showed brain reorganization/plasticity evidenced through functional connectivity alterations and activation in the cortical regions, especially of the precentral and postcentral gyrus. Stroke immobility-related disability was also improved. Discussion: These alterations were attributed to the short-arm human centrifuge intervention. This case study provides novel evidence supporting the use of the short-arm human centrifuge as a promising therapeutic strategy in patients with restricted mobility, with application to astronauts with long-term muscle disuse in space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrysoula Kourtidou-Papadeli
- Laboratory of Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering & Aerospace Neuroscience (BEAN), School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece,Greek Aerospace Medical Association and Space Research (GASMA-SR), Thessaloniki, Greece,Aeromedical Center of Thessaloniki (AeMC), Kalamaria, Greece,*Correspondence: Chrysoula Kourtidou-Papadeli,
| | - Christos Frantzidis
- Laboratory of Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering & Aerospace Neuroscience (BEAN), School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece,Greek Aerospace Medical Association and Space Research (GASMA-SR), Thessaloniki, Greece,School of Computer Science, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom
| | - Ilias Machairas
- Laboratory of Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering & Aerospace Neuroscience (BEAN), School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Christos Giantsios
- Laboratory of Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering & Aerospace Neuroscience (BEAN), School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Emmanouil Dermitzakis
- Greek Aerospace Medical Association and Space Research (GASMA-SR), Thessaloniki, Greece,Aeromedical Center of Thessaloniki (AeMC), Kalamaria, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Kantouris
- Greek Aerospace Medical Association and Space Research (GASMA-SR), Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Panagiotis Bamidis
- Laboratory of Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering & Aerospace Neuroscience (BEAN), School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece,Greek Aerospace Medical Association and Space Research (GASMA-SR), Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Joan Vernikos
- Greek Aerospace Medical Association and Space Research (GASMA-SR), Thessaloniki, Greece,Thirdage LLC., New York, NY, United States
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Isasi E, Isasi ME, van Loon JJWA. The application of artificial gravity in medicine and space. Front Physiol 2022; 13:952723. [PMID: 36105282 PMCID: PMC9465481 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.952723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gravity plays a crucial role in physiology. The lack of gravity, like in long duration spaceflight missions, cause pathologies in e.g., the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular deconditioning, immune system deprivation or brain abnormalities, to just mention a few. The application of artificial gravity through short-arm human centrifugation (SAHC) has been studied as a possible countermeasure to treat spaceflight deconditioning. However, hypergravity protocols applied by using SAHC have also been used to treat different, ground-based pathologies. Such gravitational therapies have been applied in Uruguay for more than four decades now. The aim of this overview is to summarize the most important findings about the effects of gravitational therapy in different, mainly vascular based pathologies according to the experience in the Gravitational Therapy Center and to discuss the current research in the field of hypergravity applications in medicine but also as multisystem countermeasure for near weightlessness pathologies. New insight is needed on the use of hypergravity in medicine and space research and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Isasi
- Centro de Terapia Gravitacional, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Histología y Embriología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Maria E. Isasi
- Centro de Terapia Gravitacional, Montevideo, Uruguay
- *Correspondence: Jack J. W. A. van Loon, ; Maria E. Isasi,
| | - Jack J. W. A. van Loon
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Pathology, Amsterdam Movement Sciences & Amsterdam Bone Center (ABC), Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam & Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Life Support and Physical Sciences Section (TEC-MMG), European Space Agency (ESA), European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Noordwijk, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Jack J. W. A. van Loon, ; Maria E. Isasi,
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