![]() Via the thoracolumbar fascial connection to the lumbar spine, contraction of these muscles increases lumbar spine stiffness 6. Additionally, the deep antero-lateral abdominal muscles, such as the transversus abdominis, are considered to stabilise the lumbar spine 6. Recent data from six astronauts showed that multifidus muscle atrophy persisted 6 weeks after spaceflight 5. ![]() ![]() The extensor musculature of the spine 3, and in particular the lumbar multifidus 4, are important for controlling the lumbar spine. Astronauts are at increased risk of lumbar spine injury 1 and muscular deficiencies have been suggested as a likely risk factor 2. With a long-term view to missions to Mars or a Moon base, amelioration of musculoskeletal deterioration is important to ensure success of mission tasks and to safeguard return to Earth. Axial loading of the body, with or without arm loading, most consistently led to contraction of the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus muscles, and regional differences existed in the contraction within the muscles. This study provides proof-of-principle for an exercise approach that may be used to facilitate the automatically contraction of the transversus abdominis and multifidus muscles. #Axial loading plusThe contraction of multifidus was the greatest in the ‘arm extension and thoracic cue’ (anteroposterior, + 3.0%, P = 0.001 mediolateral, − 4.2%, P < 0.001) and ‘stretch tall plus arm extension and thoracic cue’ (anteroposterior, + 6.0%, P < 0.001 mediolateral, − 2.1%, P = 0.022) conditions. Transversus abdominis contraction was greatest in the ‘stretch tall plus arm extension’ (length, − 15%, P < 0.001 thickness, + 19%, P < 0.001) and ‘stretch tall plus arm extension and thoracic cue’ (length, − 16%, P < 0.001 thickness, + 18%, P < 0.001) conditions. Whole volume of the abdominal and lumbar paraspinal muscles was imaged and transversus abdominis thickness and length and multifidus anteroposterior and mediolateral thickness measured. ![]() Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed under one rest and five exercise conditions, which involved variations in axial loading and postural cues. Thirty (18 males and 12 females) endurance-trained runners without a history of spinal pain aged 33–55 years were recruited. With a view to developing training approaches for the muscles of the spine in microgravity, this study examined the effects of axial loading and postural cues on the contraction of transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus in supine lying using a novel exercise device (GravityFit). Astronauts are at increased risk of spine injury. ![]()
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