ArticleFrontiers in physiology2025
Adaptation of thoracic and lumbar curvature and spinal muscle activity under changing gravity.
Article in Frontiers in physiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Hyper-buoyancy flotation increases cervical disc height and reduces vertebral stiffness, with only partial reversal after acute 1 g axial loading.Experimental physiology · 2026Article
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7 authors.
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Abstract
Introduction: The effect of micro-gravity on the lumbar and in particular thoracic regions is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate spinal curvature across the lumbar and thoracic region, and extensor muscle activity during acute micro-gravity and hyper-gravity induced by parabolic flight. In addition, the association between our proxy measure of spinal curvature, and extensor muscle activity in micro-gravity was investigated. Methods: During two ESA parabolic flight campaigns, 18 participants (8 female; 33 Results: Spinal flattening was observed during micro-gravity exposure, with changes most pronounced in the upper lumbar and lower thoracic spine. Mean-normalized area between the back and backpack decreased significantly in micro-gravity compared to earth-gravity (p = 0.001), but not during hyper-gravity (p = 1.00). The erector spinae responded heterogeneously to different gravity conditions across different assessment sites. Multifidus activity at L5 and erector spinae activity at L4 significantly decreased in micro-gravity compared to earth-gravity and hyper-gravity (p's Discussion/Conclusion: Parabolic flight-induced gravity changes caused upper lumbar and lower thoracic spine flattening in micro-g, while spinal curvature remained unchanged in hyper-g. In micro-g, Multifidus (L5) and Erector Spinae (L4) activity decreased, while in hyper-g, increased ES activity was observed at the upper middle transmitter. The maintained curvature and targeted muscle activation in hyper-g demonstrate protective mechanisms against increased axial loading, crucial for posture and injury prevention in both terrestrial and space environments. The spinal and muscular changes in micro-g indicate the need for targeted countermeasures during spaceflight, warranting comprehensive assessment in future research. Ethics: French "EST-III" (Nr-ID-RCB: 2022-A01696-37).
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