Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31258: Why Do Astronauts Get Back Pain? The Lumbar Pain Study in Space

Imagine floating in zero gravity for days or even months. Sounds fun, right? But this weightless environment can lead to some unexpected discomforts—like back pain. Scientists wanted to understand why astronauts often report pain in their lower back during and after space missions. To uncover the cause and find possible solutions, researchers launched the Lumbar Pain in Space experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

This study was spearheaded by Dr. Jaap Swanenburg at Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich, supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). The experiment aimed to study the origin of lumbar (lower back) pain in astronauts, determine what body changes occur in space, and identify if the pain is related to spinal or muscular changes during long-term exposure to microgravity.

In microgravity, our spines stretch out—astronauts can grow up to two inches taller! This stretching affects spinal alignment and places new strains on muscles and ligaments that are used differently in space than on Earth. The Lumbar Pain study monitored astronauts across Expeditions 67, 68, 69, 71, and 72. Researchers used motion capture, muscle strength tests, and ultrasound to observe changes in spinal curvature and muscular control. They even had astronauts report pain levels at regular intervals.

The findings help improve astronaut health and could also guide treatments for people on Earth with similar issues caused by poor posture or long periods of immobility. It’s another example of how space research is solving problems both in orbit and at home.

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