Modeling the Gravity Loading Countermeaure Skinsuit

Date

2014-07-13

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Publisher

44th International Conference on Environmental Systems

Abstract

During long duration human spaceflight, the human body is affected in myriad ways. Negative effects to bone, muscle, and other physiological systems occur in the absence of gravity, and current countermeasures are insufficient to completely prevent these changes. One countermeasure concept that may be used is the Gravity Loading Countermeasure Skinsuit (GLCS), a wearable countermeasure garment that can be used to augment existing countermeasures to help prevent musculoskeletal deconditioning. The GLCS, based in part on the Russian Pingvin (Penguin) suit, uses elastic materials to produce loads on the body similar to those seen in the presence of gravity. Initial prototypes using readily available lycra materials were developed in our lab and tested for wearability and feasibility, but their loading potential was not well characterized. It is highly difficult to measure forces on bone in vivo, however, musculoskeletal modeling programs offer an opportunity to gain insight into the body’s internal forces and torques. In order to inform the suit design, the suit has been modeled in OpenSim musculoskeletal modeling software. OpenSim has the capability to model the suit as spring elements to accurately simulate the loading profile of the suit. This study analyzed the muscle forces and joint reaction forces for a static, straight-leg pose and a simple knee bend motion for four suited and two unsuited cases, to determine how changing the suit material stiffness properties affects the loading the suit provides, and compared those forces to the unsuited cases.

Description

Tucson, Arizona
The 44th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Tuscon, Arizona, USA on 13 July 2014 through 17 July 2014.
Dustin P. Kendrick, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
Dava J. Newman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

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