Depression, mood state, and back pain during microgravity simulated by bed rest

Styf, J. R.; Hutchinson, K.; Carlsson, S. G.; Hargens, A. R.

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NASA NTRS · 20040088628

Depression, mood state, and back pain during microgravity simulated by bed rest

Styf, J. R.·Hutchinson, K.·Carlsson, S. G.·Hargens, A. R.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to develop a ground-based model for spinal adaptation to microgravity and to study the effects of spinal adaptation on depression, mood state, and pain intensity. METHODS: We investigated back pain, mood state, and depression in six subjects, all of whom were exposed to microgravity, simulated by two forms of bed rest, for 3 days. One form consisted of bed rest with 6 degrees of head-down tilt and balanced traction, and the other consisted of horizontal bed rest. Subjects had a 2-week period of recovery between the studies. The effects of bed rest on pain intensity in the lower back, depression, and mood state were investigated. RESULTS: Subjects experienced significantly more intense lower back pain, lower hemisphere abdominal pain, headache, and leg pain during head-down tilt bed rest. They had higher scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (ie, were more depressed) and significantly lower scores on the activity scale of the Bond-Lader questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: Bed rest with 6 degrees of head-down tilt may be a better experimental model than horizontal bed rest for inducing the pain and psychosomatic reactions experienced in microgravity. Head-down tilt with balanced traction may be a useful method to induce low back pain, mood changes, and altered self-rated activity level in bed rest studies.

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NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal NASA Center ARC Back Pain/psychology Weightlessness Mood Disorders/psychology Depression/psychology Bed Rest Male Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S Pain Measurement Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Head-Down Tilt Adult Human

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Styf, J. R., Hutchinson, K., Carlsson, S. G., Hargens, A. R.. 2001-11-01. Depression, mood state, and back pain during microgravity simulated by bed rest. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20040088628

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