Abstract: The aim of this work was to study the influence of microgravity on the structural characteristics of the back musculoskeletal system. The studies were performed on 8 healthy volunteers before and after 3- and 5-days exposure to Dry Immersion (DI) using magnetic resonance imaging. The results of the studies showed that DI is accompanied by a decrease in the physiological curvature of the lumbar spine by an average of 3.51 ± 0.22° with a simultaneous increase in the intervertebral discs height: the most pronounced changes were registered between the lumbar vertebrae L2–L3, L3–L4 and L5–S1. Under immersion conditions, an increase in the height by an average of 1.89 ± 1.03 cm was also observed. According to the MRI studies, starting from the 3rd day of DI there were symptoms of muscles’ atrophy with a significant decrease in the cross-sectional areas of mm. quadratus lumborum, multifidus, erector spinae. During the first two days of DI, the volunteers experienced moderate back pain of 5.33 ± 2.76 points on a 10-point scale. At the same time, there was a high correlation between the severity of pain and a decrease in the cross-sectional areas of mm. quadratus lumborum and multifidus.

Cite: Rukavishnikov I.V. , Makovskaya L. , Tomilovskaya E.S.
Influence of 5-Day Dry Immersion on Characteristics of Musculoskeletal System of the Back
Microgravity Science and Technology. 2025. V.37. 35 :1-20. DOI: 10.1007/s12217-025-10191-7 OpenAlex

Dates:

Submitted:	Sep 12, 2024
Accepted:	Jun 13, 2025
Published online:	Jun 30, 2025

Identifiers:

OpenAlex:

W4411769937

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