Chapter 26

Muscles

Dirk C. Gibson

Abstract

The effect of the space environment on muscles was analyzed in this chapter. It was documented that a variety of muscle problems can result from space travel, including loss of contractile protein and connective tissue damage. Other harmful effects of space on muscles includes changes in muscle type, muscular twitching, muscle damage, tissue shrinkage, and reduced muscle volume. A number of causes of muscle problems in outer space were considered along with a few proposed solutions. The fact that spacefarers face muscle-related problems upon returning to the Earth was noted.

Total Pages: 281-290 (10)

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