3 recovery strategies used by astronauts

The idea of traveling through space is an exciting one, and perhaps something the next generation may experience as casually as flying is to many of us who travel the world. But space travel and prolonged periods of flight doesn't come without its own risk factors and hardships on the body.

The 2 astronauts who were recently rescued by the SpaceX crew after orbiting in the International Space Station for nearly 10 months experienced many health and wellness challenges from experiencing microgravity, the phenomenon of being weightless for periods of time.

The following describes the main stresses on the body during microgravity, followed by strategies they use while in space. Fortunately theses same strategies are also available and cost effective for the consumer and wellness warrior.

MICROGRAVITY'S EFFECT ON THE HUMAN BODY

Fluid retention: Edema is the presence of fluids around body tissue, a kind of retention that makes the body or body parts swell and become less mobile, larger in size, and experience increased pressure to healthy cells.

Cardiovascular stress: With increased body swelling comes increased load on the heart function. The muscles work harder to circulate blood flow due to increased peripheral resistance, making casual tasks like sleeping and sitting burdensome on the body.

Bone density loss: With out gravity, our bones become less dense and demineralize. This puts the bones at risk of fracture, or prolonged healing times when the body experiences blunt forces during daily activities.

Muscle atrophy: Without the stress of gravitational pull, your muscles don't have to work against the downward resistance of gravity, and muscle density also diminishes just like bone density. The body is less tolerant to forces against it, and routine tasks like walking become a stress on the body.

Immune system deficit: With the accumulation of cardiovascular and muscle stress comes increased load on the immune system. Think of immune system stress like a hose that has multiple regions of being pinched. The output become compromised and it takes longer for the body to heal, produce new red blood cells, and perform routine functions like digestion and clearing infections with greater difficulty.

Digestive deficit: Without gravity (or being sedentary for long periods) the gastrointestinal tract cannot move food through the intestines with efficiency. Food sits longer in small pockets of the intestines which increases bacterial culture overgrowth, oils become rancid, gas is produced, and nutrients degrade. This can cause the body's biochemistry to shift which has many consequential effect on cognitive wellness, ability to concentrate, and even disrupt regular sleep cycles.

Cognitive effect: How your brain functions is dependent on the well being of all the other functions mentioned above. Concentration, mental acuity, and even mood will be directly affected by deficits of the above systems.

THE 3 STRATEGIES YOU CAN USE HERE ON EARTH

1. Red light therapy (RLT): Red light therapy uses low-wavelength red or near-infrared light to promote healing, reduce inflammation, and improve various skin and body conditions. It works by penetrating the skin to stimulate cellular processes, enhance blood circulation, and promote tissue repair.

   
   

   Benefits of Red Light Therapy:

   • Pain Relief: Helps reduce chronic pain and inflammation in muscles, joints, and tissues.

   • Skin Health: Improves collagen production, reduces wrinkles, fine lines, and acne.

   • Wound Healing: Speeds up the healing of cuts, burns, and other injuries.

   • Hair Growth: Can stimulate hair follicles to encourage hair regrowth in cases of hair loss.

   • Improved Circulation: Enhances blood flow, which can promote healing and reduce swelling.

   • Reduced Inflammation: Helps with conditions like arthritis by lowering inflammation.

   • Muscle Recovery: Accelerates muscle recovery post-exercise by reducing soreness.

   • Mood and Sleep Benefits: May improve sleep quality and mood by influencing melatonin production.

2. Vasopneumatic therapy (VPT): VPT is a non-invasive treatment that uses air-filled sleeves or cuffs to apply intermittent pressure to specific body parts. This therapy promotes circulation, reduces swelling, and aids in the recovery of muscles and tissues. It is commonly used for managing conditions like lymphedema, post-surgery recovery, and improving blood flow.

   
   

   

   
   

   Benefits of Vasopneumatic Compression Therapy:

   • Improved Circulation: Stimulates blood flow, helping oxygen and nutrients reach tissues more efficiently.

   • Reduced Swelling: Effective in reducing edema (swelling) caused by injury, surgery, or medical conditions.

   • Muscle Recovery: Helps reduce soreness and aids in faster recovery following intense exercise or physical activity.

   • Lymphedema Management: Helps manage fluid buildup in the lymphatic system, especially in conditions like lymphedema.

   • Pain Relief: Alleviates discomfort by reducing swelling and promoting circulation, leading to a reduction in pain.

   • Enhanced Tissue Repair: Accelerates the healing process by improving the flow of blood and nutrients to injured or damaged tissues.

   • Prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Can help reduce the risk of DVT by promoting better circulation, especially during long periods of immobility.

     
     

3. Oxygen therapy: Oxygen therapy is a medical treatment that involves breathing in pure oxygen, typically through a mask or nasal cannula, to enhance the amount of oxygen in the blood. It is used to treat various conditions where the body’s oxygen levels are insufficient, such as respiratory diseases, certain chronic conditions, and during recovery from surgery or injury.

   
   

   Benefits of Oxygen Therapy:

   • Improved Oxygen Levels: Increases oxygen supply to tissues, ensuring the body functions optimally.

   • Enhanced Healing: Speeds up recovery by improving tissue oxygenation and promoting healing, especially in wounds or injuries.

   • Better Respiratory Function: Helps people with chronic respiratory conditions like COPD, asthma, and pneumonia breathe more easily.

   • Increased Energy Levels: Boosts energy and reduces feelings of fatigue, as cells have more oxygen to produce energy.

   • Cognitive Function Support: Can improve focus, memory, and mental clarity by ensuring the brain receives adequate oxygen.

   • Reduced Shortness of Breath: Eases difficulty in breathing by increasing the oxygen available to the lungs and bloodstream.

   • Support for Stroke and Brain Injury Recovery: Helps with brain cell repair and recovery following strokes or brain injuries.

   • Improved Physical Performance: In athletes, it can help enhance endurance and reduce recovery times by increasing oxygen availability to muscles.

The Family Chiropractic Center of South Pasadena is always searching and adopting new methods that are safe, cost effective, and beneficial to individuals who want to live in good stewardship of their body, allowing individuals to pursue a life of gratitude and service that benefits those around them. We believe that a healthy individual will become more resilient to physical, mental and spiritual stress that are part of daily living.