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Musculoskeletal-induced Nucleation in Altitude Decompression SicknessMusculoskeletal activity has the potential to both improve and compromise decompression safety. Exercise enhances inert gas elimination during oxygen breathing prior to decompression (prebreathe), but it may also promote bubble nuclei formation (nucleation), which can lead to gas phase separation and bubble growth and increase the risk of decompression sickness (DCS). The timing, pattern and intensity of musculoskeletal activity and the level of tissue supersaturation may be critical to the net effect. There are limited data available to evaluate cost-benefit relationships. Understanding the relationship is important to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of nucleation in exercise prebreathe protocols and to quantify risk in gravity and microgravity environments. Data gathered during NASA's Prebreathe Reduction Program (PRP) studies combined oxygen prebreathe and exercise followed by low pressure (4.3 psi; altitude equivalent of 30,300 ft [9,235 m]) microgravity simulation to produce two protocols used by astronauts preparing for extravehicular activity. Both the Phase II/CEVIS (cycle ergometer vibration isolation system) and ISLE (in-suit light exercise) trials eliminated ambulation to more closely simulate the microgravity environment. The CEVIS results (35 male, 10 female) serve as control data for this NASA/Duke study to investigate the influence of ambulation exercise on bubble formation and the subsequent risk of DCS.
Document ID
20140003297
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Pollock, N. W. (Duke Univ. Durham, NC, United States)
Natoli, M. J. (Duke Univ. Durham, NC, United States)
Conkin, J. (Universities Space Research Association Houston, TX, United States)
Wessel, J. H., III (Wyle Integrated Science and Engineering Group Houston, TX, United States)
Gernhardt, M. L. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
April 22, 2014
Publication Date
February 12, 2014
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-29922
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2014 NASA Human Research Program Investigators'' Workshop (HRP 2014)
Location: Galveston, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: February 12, 2014
End Date: February 13, 2014
Sponsors: National Space Biomedical Research Inst., Universities Space Research Association, NASA Headquarters
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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