Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31483: How Muscle Tone Changes in Space: The Myoton Study Aboard the ISS
- Agnirva.com
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
Imagine trying to flex your biceps in zero gravity. You might expect your muscles to behave the same way they do on Earth—but that’s not quite true. When humans live in microgravity environments like the International Space Station (ISS), their bodies start to adapt in surprising ways. One of the most fascinating transformations occurs in our muscles. The European Space Agency’s (ESA) long-running experiment called “Muscle Tone in Space,” led by Dr. Dieter Blottner and developed by Myoton AS, is unraveling how muscle structure, tone, and elasticity shift during extended stays in orbit.
Our muscles are used to working against gravity. Every step we take on Earth is a mini resistance workout. But aboard the ISS, astronauts float effortlessly. This reduces the usual load on muscles, causing them to weaken and atrophy if left unchecked. The "Muscle Tone in Space" experiment was designed to understand this deterioration scientifically. What makes this study special is its use of a small, handheld device called the MyotonPRO. It’s about the size of a TV remote and gives incredibly detailed readings about muscle stiffness, tone, and elasticity.
Using this device, astronauts perform regular checks on key muscle groups like the quadriceps and biceps. The data collected helps scientists back on Earth understand how specific muscles change over time in microgravity. What's more, because this study has been carried out across many expeditions—from 53/54 all the way to 73—it has created a long-term record of muscle responses in space.
Why is this important? Besides helping astronauts maintain their health during missions, this research is directly relevant to medical conditions on Earth. For instance, patients who are bedridden or suffer from muscular diseases may experience similar patterns of muscle deterioration. The insights from this experiment could help design better rehabilitation programs or even advanced diagnostic tools using devices like the MyotonPRO.
The researchers didn’t stop at just tracking decline. They also used the experiment to see how exercise and countermeasures—like resistance workouts with space-based exercise machines—affect muscle recovery. With each crew rotation, more data contributed to building a clearer picture of what works and what doesn’t. This holistic approach is essential for planning longer missions, like those to Mars, where astronauts could spend years away from Earth's gravity.
ESA’s support of this experiment underlines Europe's strong contribution to human research in space. And Myoton AS’s technology showcases how innovative solutions from small companies can make a big impact in space science.
Whether you’re dreaming of becoming an astronaut or curious about how your body would fare in orbit, "Muscle Tone in Space" offers a compelling look at how spaceflight reshapes human physiology—and how we’re learning to adapt.
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