Isometric force production during changed-Gz episodes of parabolic flight

Andreas Mierau, Michaela Girgenrath, Otmar Bock

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftZeitschriftenaufsätzeForschungBegutachtung

14 Quellenangaben (Web of Science)

Abstract

Changes of the normal gravitational acceleration are known to affect sensorimotor performance. For example, subjects exposed to three times the normal terrestrial acceleration (+3 Gz) in a centrifuge will produce exaggerated isometric force. The present study compares the effects of high-Gz to that of micro-Gz on isometric force production. Twelve right-handed human subjects were tested during the microgravity (micro-Gz), high gravity (high-Gz) and normal gravity (normal-Gz) episodes of parabolic flight. Holding an isometric joystick in their right hand, they produced forces of 5, 15, or 25 N in different directions, according to visually prescribed vectors. In some parabolas, 70 Hz vibration was applied to the flexor- and extensor-side of the wrist, in order to reduce spinal segmental activity. If compared to normal-Gz, produced forces were higher in high-Gz, and still higher in micro-Gz. Vibration reduced the magnitude of produced forces independent of the Gz-level. We confirm that isometric force increases in high-Gz, and document that it increases in micro-Gz as well. This increase is probably not related to degraded segmental excitability and proprioception, since it was not modified by vibration and manifests before proprioception becomes effective.
OriginalspracheEnglisch
ZeitschriftEuropean journal of applied physiology
Jahrgang102
Ausgabenummer3
Seiten (von - bis)313-318
Seitenumfang6
ISSN1439-6319
DOIs
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 2008

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