Few things in life are certain. But it seems highly probable that people will explore the lunar surface over the next decade or so, staying there for weeks, perhaps months, at a time. That fact bumps up against something we are certain about. When human beings spend time in low-gravity environments, it takes a toll on their bodies. <\/p>\n
What can be done? <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Scientists have studied the effects of microgravity and low gravity on the human body. Several problems crop up, like muscle atrophy and bone demineralization. Cardiovascular conditioning suffers, as does neural control of body posture and movement. But while researchers are learning more and more about the effects, solutions are lagging behind.<\/p>\n A new paper published in Royal Society Open Science suggests a novel, low-tech solution for these problems. Its title is \u201cHorizontal running inside circular walls of Moon settlements: a comprehensive countermeasure for low-gravity deconditioning?\u201d The lead author is Alberto Minetti, a Physiology Professor at the University of Milan. <\/p>\n Minetti and his co-authors point out that specific exercises for specific problems may not be the best approach. Instead, whole-body exercise could be a powerful tool for supporting astronaut health. \u201cRather than training selected muscle groups only, \u2018whole-body\u2019 activities such as locomotion seem better candidates,\u201d they explain. However, there\u2019s a problem with that. \u201cBut at Moon gravity, both \u2018pendular\u2019 walking and bouncing gaits like running exhibit abnormal dynamics at faster speeds,\u201d they write. <\/p>\n The abnormal dynamics mean that astronauts don\u2019t benefit much from that type of exercise. It\u2019s hindered by an \u201d \u2026 imbalance between the kinetic and potential energy of the body centre of mass,\u201d the authors write. That means it can\u2019t be used to get the same kind of exercise it would provide on the Earth. \u201cAdditionally, the metabolic demands of bouncing gaits are reduced at Moon gravity, limiting their potential stimulus for cardiorespiratory fitness,\u201d the authors explain.<\/p>\n There are some potential solutions out there to help lunar astronauts maintain their health in low gravity. One is a centrifuge, where the rotating motion simulates gravity, encouraging the body to maintain muscle and bone mass. But they\u2019re energy-intensive and impractical. <\/p>\n The authors are proposing a novel solution. Have you ever seen a Wall of Death?<\/p>\n \u201cHere, we propose a novel solution: lunar inhabitants could engage in running on the inside of vertical circular walls, hence running parallel to the Moon\u2019s surface,\u201d the authors write. Exercising in a Wall of Death (WoD) would help maintain muscle mass, bone density, cardiovascular fitness, and neural control. <\/p>\n On Earth, the gravity is too strong for humans to run around the sides of a WoD. Only motorized vehicles and bicycles can do it. But on the Moon, the weaker gravity makes them practical. <\/p>\n The researchers simulated a lunar WoD and tested the performance of subjects running in it. They hired a WoD for one day and used a harness of bungee cords to reduce participants\u2019 body weight, simulating the Moon\u2019s lower gravity. <\/p>\n Two participants took part in the tests: a 36-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman. The bungees were tuned so each participant weighed one-sixth of their body weight. The harness unloaded one side of the subjects\u2019 bodies to further mimic lunar conditions. Each participant\u2019s data from the WoD was combined with treadmill data to give robust results.<\/p>\n Once inside the WoD and connected to the harness, this is what the experiment looked like.<\/p>\n The participants quickly got the hang of the unusual motion required to run horizontally inside the WoD. \u201cThis process required only 5\u20138 attempts and allowed them to start running with no assistance,\u201d the authors write. The participants \u201c\u2026 ended their performance by safely slowing down their pace and descending from the horizontal posture on the wall down to the upright one on the WoD floor, with no injuries,\u201d they explained. <\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.universetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Wall-of-Death.jpg\")
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