Research Reveals How Space-Stranded Sunita Williams Can Mitigate Cartilage Damage
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Synopsis
A recent study indicates that jumping exercises may significantly reduce cartilage damage and enhance bone strength in astronauts, highlighting the importance of physical activity during long-duration space missions.
Key Takeaways
- Jumping workouts may prevent cartilage damage.
- Sunita Williams is currently stranded in space.
- ESA studies indicate cartilage degradation in astronauts.
- Jump training improved cartilage health in mice.
- Inactivity accelerates cartilage breakdown in space.
New Delhi, Feb 13 (NationPress) Jumping workouts might be crucial in preventing cartilage damage and enhancing bone strength in astronauts during extended space missions, according to a recent study conducted on mice.
The results, although derived from mice, come at a time when Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has been stranded in space since June of the previous year. Williams and her colleague Butch Willmore are currently unable to return due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner, which transported them to the International Space Station (ISS).
Recent research by the European Space Agency (ESA) has also indicated signs of cartilage degradation in astronauts who spend several months aboard the ISS. Limited movement can result in cartilage thinning and cellular clustering—early signs of arthritis.
The new study, published in the journal npj Microgravity, demonstrated that participating in jumping exercises improved knee cartilage in mice. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in the US reported that jump training three times a week resulted in thicker, healthier cartilage with a normal cellular structure in the animals.
Healthy cartilage is vital for pain-free movement, as it acts as a cushion for joints and reduces bone friction. Importantly, cartilage damage has a slow healing process and does not regenerate quickly like other tissues.
Extended periods of inactivity—like those experienced during space travel—can hasten cartilage deterioration, a process that can be further exacerbated by space radiation.
“As the next phase of human space exploration involves missions to Mars and prolonged stays on the moon, cartilage damage is a significant challenge that space agencies must confront, despite its poor understanding,” stated Marco Chiaberge, an astrophysicist at Johns Hopkins University, the Space Telescope Science Institute, and the ESA.
“The positive impact we observed in these mice is substantial, and its magnitude was surprising. They can effectively thicken their cartilage through jumping exercises. Astronauts might consider similar training as a preventive measure before their missions,” he added.
In the study, a nine-week period of reduced movement in mice resulted in a 14 percent reduction in cartilage thickness.
Conversely, the jumping group exhibited a 26 percent increase in cartilage thickness compared to the control group.
Moreover, the jumping mice had 110 percent thicker cartilage than the reduced activity group, and their jumping activities also improved bone strength by 15 percent.
While additional research is required to ascertain whether humans would experience similar benefits, these findings provide promising insights into preserving cartilage and bone structure, according to the researchers.
