![]() ![]() ![]() In space, most bone loss and muscle atrophy occur in the lower body. In his research, Whalen developed the hypothesis that musculoskeletal maintenance in space requires Earth-equivalent functional loading (or weighting), which is loading bones and muscles with activities and force levels in space similar to daily activity on Earth. ![]() As a National Research Council post-doctoral Fellow at Ames from 1988 to 1989, Whalen helped develop effective exercise regimens for NASA’s astronauts, and when Whalen’s fellowship ended, NASA hired Whalen to a full-time research position. While he was studying the biomechanics of exercise, Ames Research Center scientist Robert Whalen proposed using differential air pressure in space to mimic the Earth’s gravity to prevent bone loss and muscle deterioration. ![]() NASA is seeking ways to combat these problems, and the solutions are finding application here on Earth. However, in space, the lack of gravity can also cause problems for astronauts’ bodies. On Earth, gravity can cause a lot of stress to a person’s bones and muscles, whether the stress is caused by running a marathon or simply climbing a staircase. ![]()
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