It's estimated that, for every month an astronaut spends in space, they are losing an average of one percent in bone density. As such, crewmembers spend two to three hours each day exercising inside the International Space Station to maintain their skeletal and overall health. And now, a recent proposal is being suggested by a team of NASA researchers that another exercise program should be added into this routine: back pain yoga.
Back Pain Yoga Proposed To Alleviate Astronaut's Discomfort
Back pain is the most frequent complaints reported by astronauts who recently returned to the Earth's surface after spending months floating in orbit. It's been previously thought that this is because of the changes that space mission does to the intervertebral discs. However, when medical researchers - funded by NASA - monitored the spine of six astronauts who spent about seven months on the ISS there were little to no changes observed in their discs.
What the team did find was a significant shrinking and degeneration of the muscles supporting the spine. These muscles are responsible for making us stay upright and cushions our back from strain and injury. Dr. Douglas Chang, the first author of the study, then suggested that back pain yoga be implemented in their workout, the Edition reported.
Lack Of Gravity Limiting Astronauts In Practicing Back Pain Yoga In Orbit
Currently, astronauts use the "fetal tuck" maneuver in space to stretch and alleviate the discomfort of the back. Chang said that adding core-strengthening to the already-practiced exercises will help crewmembers in countering this prevalent discomfort, Home reported. But he did admit that it wouldn't be that simple as space is lacking gravity, an essential component of the Hindu discipline.
"A lot of yoga depends on the effects of gravity, like downward dog, where a stretch through the hamstring, calf muscles, back of the neck and shoulders are possible because of gravity. When you remove that, you may not have the same benefit," Chang said. Chang and his team are currently on the drawing board trying to figure out which positions are best to include in this newly proposed back pain yoga routine.
