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Electromyostimulation (EMS) of Astronauts in Spaceflight (Easymotion-2)
Sponsor: Charite University, Berlin, Germany
Summary
This is a prospective spaceflight study involving an investigational non-risk device called the EasyMotionSkin for whole body electric muscle (myo) stimulation (WB-EMS) onboard the International Space Station (ISS). The purpose of this study is to show: * optimized exercise outcome with EMS in human spaceflight * demonstrate efficacy of EMS as alternative inflight exercise protocol * provide a time-saving and reliable EMS-assisted exercise protocol compliant to astronauts for later use in planetary habitats and future deep space exploration Eight (n=8) astronauts on long duration missions will take part in this study. This experiment uses the following hardware/software (HW \& SW): (A) EasymotionSkin suit (dry electrode muscle stimulation), B) non-invasive hand-held Myoton device (digitized passive muscle stiffness data collection). C) a customized Myoton body template suit (elastic yoga suit with customized anatomical reference labels to aid inflight Myoton data collection on dedicated perforated 2x2 cm small skin fields) at 5 different skin measurement points (MP), neck, back, shoulder, legs. Before and after flight the following tests will be done once: Myoton data collection, dynamometry strength test, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for baseline comparison. Researchers will compare data from a non EMS control group (non EMS Astronauts, retrospective) to see if changes of passive muscle stiffness is seen in EMS Astronauts before, during and after spaceflight
Official title: ElectroMyoStimulation (EMS Body Suit) Protocol to Improve Exercise Outcome in Space Missions (EasyMotion-2)
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
40 Years - 60 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
12
Start Date
2025-09-15
Completion Date
2029-12-31
Last Updated
2026-03-23
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Interventions
Electromyostimulation (EMS)
EasymotionSkin body suit for digitally controlled electric impulses via Easymotion-2 software on crew iPad (frequency, impulse rate, duration) are transferred from integrated dry electrodes of the EMS- stimulation suit to activate surface muscle groups of the body (trunk), arms and legs
Myoton
The non-invasive Myoton technology collects data from passive muscle properties (tone and stiffness) obtained from selected anatomical surface muscle groups
Electromyography (EMG)
As a standard method, surface EMG collects data from nerve impulse-triggered active muscle contractions, pre/postflight only
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI is a clinically standard (non-radiation) imaging method to study structural changes of the human body (organs, muscle, bones, tendons) at the macroscopic level, pre/postflight only
Dynamometry
Dynamometry is a standard functional and diagnostic method to test muscle strength in sports and rehabilitation. pre/postflight only
Locations (1)
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Mitte, State of Berlin, Germany