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Influence of Weightlessness on Aerobic Capacity, Cardiac Output and Oxygen Uptake Kinetics

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Exercise in Space

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Space Life Sciences ((BRIEFSSLS))

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Abstract

The exposure to weightlessness can have an impact on aerobic capacity as a result of changes in the cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal systems. As a consequence, astronauts’ work capacities might be changed which would affect activities during the Space missions and after return to Earth or other environments with gravity, i.e. Mars or Moon. This chapter will give an overview about results from studies using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). This method allows to monitor astronauts’ fitness non-invasively and is, therefore, qualified for inflight measurements. Results from early Space flight until now will be compared with results from bedrest studies. Predominantly, the focus lies on peak oxygen uptake, heart rate and oxygen uptake kinetics. Since the specific methods and problems of CPET are related to the concepts of respiratory gas measurement, aspects of hardware, exercise protocols and data analysis will be discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Physiology and Anatomy, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    U. Hoffmann, A. D. Moore, J. Koschate & U. Drescher

  2. Department of Health and Kinesiology, Lamar University, 10039, Beaumont, TX, 77710, USA

    A. D. Moore

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  1. U. Hoffmann
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  2. A. D. Moore
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  3. J. Koschate
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  4. U. Drescher
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Correspondence to U. Hoffmann .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Stefan Schneider

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Hoffmann, U., Moore, A.D., Koschate, J., Drescher, U. (2016). Influence of Weightlessness on Aerobic Capacity, Cardiac Output and Oxygen Uptake Kinetics. In: Schneider, S. (eds) Exercise in Space. SpringerBriefs in Space Life Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29571-8_3

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