Brief Review: Virtual Reality and Physical Exercise as Countermeasures of Coping the Space Missions

Thais  Russomano; Nelson A. C.  Vinagre; Rosirene P Gessinger; João de C Castro; Juliana da S Herbert; Alcyr  Oliveira; Edson  Oliveira; Kalanna L.G.  Costa; Ana P Xavier; Robson  Ruiz; Yann  Dihl; Beat  Knechtle; Katja  Weiss; Marilia S Andrade; Claudio A. B.  de Lira; Rodrigo Vancini

doi:10.61838/kman.hn.2.2.4

Authors

Thais Russomano InnovaSpace, UK | Center for Aerospace Medicine Studies (CEMA), Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal | Space & Extreme Environment Research Center, Graduate Program of Information Technology & Healthcare Management, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Nelson A. C. Vinagre Center for Aerospace Medicine Studies (CEMA), Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal | InnovaSpace, UK | Space & Extreme Environment Research Center, Graduate Program of Information Technology & Healthcare Management, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Rosirene P Gessinger InnovaSpace, UK | Center for Aerospace Medicine Studies (CEMA), Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal | Space & Extreme Environment Research Center, Graduate Program of Information Technology & Healthcare Management, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil |Neuroscience & Experimental Virtual Reality Lab, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil

João de C Castro InnovaSpace, UK | Center for Aerospace Medicine Studies (CEMA), Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal | Space & Extreme Environment Research Center, Graduate Program of Information Technology & Healthcare Management, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Juliana da S Herbert InnovaSpace, UK | Center for Aerospace Medicine Studies (CEMA), Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal | Space & Extreme Environment Research Center, Graduate Program of Information Technology & Healthcare Management, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Alcyr Oliveira Space & Extreme Environment Research Center, Graduate Program of Information Technology & Healthcare Management, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil | Neuroscience & Experimental Virtual Reality Lab, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Edson Oliveira InnovaSpace, UK | Center for Aerospace Medicine Studies (CEMA), Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal | Space & Extreme Environment Research Center, Graduate Program of Information Technology & Healthcare Management, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Kalanna L.G. Costa InnovaSpace, UK | Space & Extreme Environment Research Center, Graduate Program of Information Technology & Healthcare Management, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Ana P Xavier InnovaSpace, UK | Space & Extreme Environment Research Center, Graduate Program of Information Technology & Healthcare Management, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Robson Ruiz Space & Extreme Environment Research Center, Graduate Program of Information Technology & Healthcare Management, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Yann Dihl InnovaSpace, UK | Center for Aerospace Medicine Studies (CEMA), Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal | Space & Extreme Environment Research Center, Graduate Program of Information Technology & Healthcare Management, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Beat Knechtle Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, St. Gallen

Katja Weiss Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Marilia S Andrade Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo (SP), Brazil

Claudio A. B. de Lira Human Physiology and Exercise Sector, Faculty of Physical Education and Dance, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

Rodrigo Vancini * Center for Physical Education and Sports, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil rodrigoluizvancini@gmail.com

https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.hn.2.2.4

Keywords:

Virtual reality, Physical exercise, Microgravity, Physical rehabilitation, Space science

Abstract

Microgravity is an environment incompatible with human physiology that induces unique physiological changes to the body. Exposure to microgravity environment can cause some possible physiological hazards, such as impairment of immune function, bone mass and skeletal muscle mass, in addition to possible negative psycological alterations (depression, anxiety, apathy, and personality changes). These pysico-physiological changes negatively impact health status and quality of life and result in operational difficulties on a space mission for the astronauts. Countermeasures designed to lessen the effect of microgravity on the human body include daily physical exercise and rehabilitation, psychotherapy, specific diets, pharmaceutical treatments, and the use of technologies. Virtual reality (VR) added to physical exercise programs, in the training and preparation of the astronauts for the space missions, could have more exuberant effects. Therefore, the aim of this perspective article is to present the application of VR and physical exercise as countermeasures for training and preparation before, during and after a space missions.

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