Extended Space Missions May Affect Size, Density of Spinal Muscles

Running up and down the spine, the paraspinal muscles play a key role in spinal movement and posture.

Astronauts who spend six months or more on the International Space Station (ISS) are likely to have significant reductions in the size and density of spinal muscles after returning to Earth, reports a study.

In the study, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) analysed computed tomography (CT) scans of the lumbar (lower) spine in 17 astronauts and cosmonauts who flew missions on the ISS.