Postflight reconditioning for European Astronauts - A case report of recovery after six months in space.
Postflight reconditioning of astronauts is understudied. Despite a rigorous, daily inflight exercise countermeasures programme during six months in microgravity (μG) on-board the International Space Station (ISS), physiological impairments occur and postflight reconditioning is still required on return to Earth. Such postflight programmes are implemented by space agency reconditioning specialists. Case Description and Assessments: A 38 year old male European Space Agency (ESA) crewmember's pre- and postflight (at six and 21 days after landing) physical performance from a six-month mission to ISS are described.



muscle strength (squat and bench press 1 Repetition Maximum) and power (vertical jump), core muscle endurance and hip flexibility (Sit and Reach, Thomas Test).



In-flight, the astronaut undertook a rigorous daily (2-h) exercise programme. The 21 day postflight reconditioning exercise concept focused on motor control and functional training, and was delivered in close co-ordination by the ESA physiotherapist and exercise specialist to provide the crewmember with comprehensive reconditioning support.



Despite an intensive inflight exercise programme for this highly motivated crewmember, postflight performance showed impairments at R+6 for most parameters, all of which recovered by R+21 except muscular power (jump tests).



Regardless of intense inflight exercise countermeasures and excellent compliance to postflight reconditioning, postflight performance showed impairments at R+6 for most parameters. Complex powerful performance tasks took longer to return to preflight values. Research is needed to develop optimal inflight and postflight exercise programmes to overcome the negative effects of microgravity and return the astronaut to preflight status as rapidly as possible.
Wyle GmbH, Cologne, Germany; Space Medicine Office (HSO-AM), European Astronaut Centre Department, Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Operations (D/HSO), European Space Agency, Cologne, Germany; German Sport University, Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: Nora.Petersen@esa.int.
Nora
N
Petersen
Wyle GmbH, Cologne, Germany; Space Medicine Office (HSO-AM), European Astronaut Centre Department, Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Operations (D/HSO), European Space Agency, Cologne, Germany.
Gunda
G
Lambrecht
Wyle GmbH, Cologne, Germany; Space Medicine Office (HSO-AM), European Astronaut Centre Department, Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Operations (D/HSO), European Space Agency, Cologne, Germany.
Jonathan
J
Scott
Canadian Space Agency, Canada.
Natalie
N
Hirsch
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, UK; Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis, UK.
Maria
M
Stokes
German Sport University, Cologne, Germany.
Joachim
J
Mester
D000328:Adult; D018480:Astronauts; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D013026:Space Flight; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014893:Weightlessness / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018544:Weightlessness Countermeasures
Astronaut reconditioning; Functional fitness assessment; Rehabilitation; Spaceflight