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Table 4 Outline of ESA in-flight exercise protocols for long-duration missions (LDM) utilising International Space Station (ISS) exercise hardware

From: Exercise in space: the European Space Agency approach to in-flight exercise countermeasures for long-duration missions on ISS

 

Resistive protocols

Treadmill protocols

Cycler ergometer protocols

Type

Interval (6,8,15 reps, 3–5 sets, daily rotation)

Continuous

Interval

Slope

Individual

Continuous

Interval

Slope

Hill

Load

Variation of load and repetition (6–15 reps, 3–5 sets)

Low/60 %, medium/75 %, high/85 %a (alternating daily)

Low/60 %, medium/75 %, high/85 %a (alternating daily)

Progression

3–5 %/wk (upper and lower limbs)

Phase 1: initially alower/50–60 % loads, CM increases load at discretion

Phase 2: systematic increase based on Phase 1 final load

Phase 3: maintain high loading or increase (3–5 %)

Between 0 and 5 speed (km/h) or interval duration (min) increase events over mission

Phase 1: Initially lower loads, CM increases load at discretion

Phase 2: Individual increase (SLS load [kg], intervals [min]/number, speed [km/h], protocol type based on crew feedback

Phase 3: continued increase in load (if possible)

Initial workload (W) decrease up to −30 %, increase to 100 % toward end of mission

Phase 1: Initially lower loads, CM increases load at discretion

Phase 2: Individual increase of workload (W), intervals (min)/number, protocol “shape” based on crew feedback

Phase 3: continued increase (if possible)

Duration (average)

60 min

30 min

30 min

  1. CM crewmember; CMS countermeasures; IRED interim resistive exercise device (LDM 1 + 2); ARED advanced resistive exercise device (LDM 3–8); TVIS treadmill with vibration isolation and stabilisation system (LDM 1–3); T2 2nd generation treadmill (LDM 3–8); CEVIS cycle ergometer with vibration isolation and stabilisation system (LDM 1–8); VELO Russian cycle ergometer; SLS subject loading system
  2. aIntensity/ % relative to individual’s maximal capacity