Need - Astronauts in low gravity will loose bone and muscle mass unless they engage in load bearing exercise. Simulated hypo- and hyper-gravity have potential uses on earth as well, including reduced loading during rehabilitation and increased loading as a sports training effect Concept - The lower body differential pressure concept was invented at the Life Science Division of NASA - Ames Research Center to investigate space exercise applications, and to simulate hypo- and hyper-gravity effects on biomechanics and cardiovascular physiology. The altered gravity environment consists of an 68 inch diameter hemispherical shell clamped to an octagonal wooden base enclosing a treadmill on a lift/tilt mechanism. A person enters the shell through an opening at the top. A neoprene seal around the waist maintains pressure differential of up to plus or minus 2 psi, which is typically about one body weight. The altered gravity environment encloses a treadmill that can be raised, lowered, or tilted. This allows earthbound subjects to experience loadings from complete weightlessness to twice body weight, and for subjects in microgravities to experience loads up to full body weight. Investigators:
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