Physical countermeasures to stress

Abstract

Since the beginning of manned spaceflight, the challenge for space science is to avoid or minimize physiological degeneration processes of the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular system caused by missing gravity. With ongoing mission duration it becomes clear that weightlessness and isolation in space has an impact also on cognitive performance and mood. Both, mental and physical health are a matter of mission success and mission safety, especially in times of enabling longer space missions, for example, to Mars. From ground-based research it is well known that exercise stimulates the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and immune system and additionally is able to improve cognitive performance as well as mood. Therefore, exercise seems to be a “global” tool in order to keep astronauts physically and mentally fit. However, exercise is time-consuming and time is limited during spaceflight. Moreover, prescribed exercise routines might even account for additional stress if not individually adapted. This chapter provides an overview of the psychophysiological and neurocognitive effects of exercise. Limitations of research and previous exercise prescriptions are demonstrated and recommendations for future research and intervention designs are given.