This viewgraph presentation describes ARED which is a new hardware exercise device for use on the International Space Station. Astronaut physiological adaptations, muscle parameters, and cardiovascular parameters are also reviewed.
http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20090007467
Thanks Rob. Any idea what muscle(s) is/are being biopsied (gastroc?) or being measured for cross sectional area? The photos of muscle CSA looks like perhaps both upper and lower leg, but I'm not certain.
I'm also curious as to bone density parameters - if they are just looking at specific areas of comparison pre/post flight within the same subject (such as femoral neck, lumbar spine, calcaneus, etc)?
This paper describes the development of the Vibration Isolation System
for the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device from conceptual design to lessons learned. Maintaining a micro-g environment on the International Space Station requires that experiment racks and major vibration sources be isolated. The challenge in characterizing exercise loads and testing the system in the presence of gravity led to a decision to qualify the system by analysis. Available data suggests that the system is successful in attenuating loads, yet there has been a major component failure and several procedural issues during its 3 years of operational use.
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110024049_2011025213.pdf