Elevated rates of back pain and disc disease among astronauts who spend a long time in space could be caused by a weakening of muscles that support the spine, according to a UC San Diego School of Medicine study released Tuesday. The MRI scans indicated a significant weakening of the paraspinal lean muscle mass during the astronauts time in space that's the small muscles that connect to the vertebrae and direct the motion of individual bones, helping to support and prevent misalignment of the spine and allowing for core movement.
Key Takeaways:
- Elevated rates of back pain and disc disease among astronauts who spend a long time in space could be caused by a weakening of muscles that support the spine
- These findings run counter to the current scientific thinking about the effects of microgravity on disc swelling
- Back pain is common during prolonged missions, reported by more than half of crew members.
"Elevated rates of back pain and disc disease among astronauts who spend a long time in space could be caused by a weakening of muscles that support the spine"
