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Project Title:  A New Harness For Use with Exercise Countermeasures-Validation of Improved Comfort and Loading with the Center for Space Medicine (CSM) Harness Reduce
Fiscal Year: FY 2011 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP HHC:Human Health Countermeasures
 Start Date: 02/28/2008  
End Date: 03/31/2011  
Task Last Updated: 03/25/2011 		 Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Perusek, Gail  M.S. / NASA Glenn Research Center 
Address:  21000 Brookpark Road 
ISS and Human Research Project Office  
Cleveland , OH 44135 		 Email: Gail.P.Perusek@nasa.gov 
Phone: 216-433-8729   
Congressional District: 10 
Web:  
 Organization Type: NASA CENTER 
Organization Name: NASA Glenn Research Center 
Joint Agency:  
Comments:  
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Owings, Tammy  Cleveland Clinic 
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. Directed Research 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor: Norsk, Peter  
Center Contact:  
Peter.norsk@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 7317  		Solicitation / Funding Source: Directed Research 
Grant/Contract No.: Directed Research 
Project Type: FLIGHT 
Flight Program: ISS 
TechPort: Yes  		No. of Post Docs: 0 
No. of PhD Candidates: 0 
No. of Master's Candidates: 1 
No. of Bachelor's Candidates: 0  		No. of PhD Degrees: 3 
No. of Master's Degrees: 2 
No. of Bachelor's Degrees: 0 
Human Research Program Elements: (1) HHC:Human Health Countermeasures
Human Research Program Risks: (1) Muscle:Risk of Impaired Performance Due to Reduced Muscle Size, Strength and Endurance
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) M7:Develop the most efficient and effective exercise program for the maintenance of muscle function.
(2) M9:Identify and validate exploration countermeasure hardware for the maintenance of muscle function.
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: ISS

Increment 20/21-25

NOTE: Change in Risks/Gaps per HRR information per IRP Rev E (Ed., 3/7/14)

NOTE: Change in Risks/Gaps per HRR information (Ed., 9/26/2011)

NOTE: End date changed to 3/31/2011 (from 9/1/2011) per discussion with PI (Ed., 2/25/2011)

NOTE: start/end dates changed per JSC info (3/1/10)

NOTE: start/end dates changed per JSC info (4/27/09)

Task Description: This Station Development Test Objective (SDTO) assesses whether crewmembers can exercise more comfortably and at higher loads using a new treadmill harness developed through the Center for Space Medicine (CSM) and identified as the CSM Harness, as compared to the existing International Space Station (ISS) treadmill harness. The hypotheses are as follows: i) the CSM Harness will provide greater overall comfort than the current U.S. Treadmill with Vibration Isolation and Stabilization System (TVIS) harness (hereafter referred to as the ISS treadmill harness); ii) crewmembers will be able to tolerate higher external loads from the subject load device and/or Series Bungee System (SBS) Bungees; iii) load distribution measurements collected with strain-gage-based buckle transducer instrumentation between shoulders and hips will correlate with subjective measures of comfort; and iv) the CSM Harness will provide more effective wear and adjustability (easier adjustments, and adjustments will stay fixed once they are set, breathable biocide outer fabric, etc.).

The CSM Harness design has potential to improve comfort, wear, and adjustment effectiveness on-orbit. To support this SDTO, NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) delivered seven (7) flight-certified CSM Harnesses with buckle transducer instrumentation and the instrumentation for 7 ISS treadmill harnesses plus spares. The buckle transducer instrumentation will converge at a junction box, which shall interface with the Ambulatory Data Acquisition System (ADAS) for data recording. The ADAS has previously flown as payload hardware sponsored by the ISS Medical Project (ISSMP) for the Foot Experiment (Experiment Identifier: #96-E318, ISS Expeditions 6, 8, 11, 12) and will be provided by ISSMP. Subject loading data will be collected for eight total sessions in-flight (4 with each harness) with each of five subjects as part of this SDTO. For these 8 sessions, a unique harness evaluation protocol will be followed for the crewmembers’ nominal treadmill exercise session.

The SDTO research protocol is aimed at improving comfort, plus increasing consistent loading for crewmembers exercising on the ISS treadmill(s). The CSM Harnesses will be instrumented to allow for objective correlation with subjective ratings of comfort. To provide a direct comparison with the ISS treadmill harness, the load distribution and subject load device loading applied to the ISS treadmill harness will also be measured. The ISS treadmill harnesses will be instrumented by the crew on-orbit during a one-time set up activity. Current monitoring does not allow measurement of inflight load distribution of the harness or the applied external load – these objective data sets may be correlated with subjective comfort data for improved designs and for existing and advanced concept exercise countermeasures systems requiring crewmember harnessing.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: Improved harnessing may be utilized in ground-based simulators (e.g., the enhanced Zero-gravity Locomotion Simulator at NASA Glenn and/or the standalone Zero-gravity Locomotion Simulator at University of Texas Medical Branch) for human test subjects research including bed rest studies.

Improved harnessing may improve crewmember comfort during treadmill exercise aboard the International Space Station, reduce chafing, bruising, scarring experienced currently. Improved comfort may allow crewmembers to run more readily at full body-weight on the subject loading system, thus potentially improving benefit of exercise and musculoskeletal health.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2011 
Task Progress: The on-orbit treadmill harness Station Development Test Objective (SDTO) evaluation ran from Increment 21 through 25 aboard the International Space Station (September 2009 through November 2010). A total of six (6) crewmembers participated in the protocol. One (1) crewmember opted out of the protocol voluntarily. Debrief sessions have occurred per nominal procedures.

All crewmembers completed questionnaires after select sessions (typically every 3rd or 4th exercise session) which included a modified Borg scale for pain (0-10 scale, 10 being worst imaginable pain) for each harness in specific body areas (neck, shoulders, back, hips, waist, and overall), perceived load ratio (% load at hip vs. % load at shoulders), perceived total load, narrative responses relating to harness fit and comfort, and nine (9) questions relating to harness performance and effectiveness as ranked on a Likert scale (1 to 5, strongly disagree to strongly agree).

As a top-level summary, questionnaire responses and crew debriefs confirmed that overall, one (1) crewmembers preferred the ISS Treadmill harness, one (1) crewmember expressed no preference, and four (4) crewmembers preferred the Center for Space Medicine (CSM) harness.

Note the Operational Nomenclature designation for the CSM harness was changed to "Glenn Harness."

Load data were captured for 3 of 6 crewmembers, issues that arose were troubleshot and fixed. Post-flight inspections of returned Glenn Harnesses (n=3) showed that they held up well to wear and tear. Overall, the Glenn Harness compared favorably in this on-orbit side-by-side comparison as measured by the crew comfort questionnaire and crew debriefs. Specific areas for improvement have been identified, and forward recommendations will be provided to the Human Research Program. The protocol developed for the SDTO provided valuable insight into crew comfort issues, design improvements, and loading preferences for exercise harnessing, and lays the groundwork for better harnessing systems and training protocols.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 08/30/2018) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings Perusek GP, Sheehan CC, Savina MC, Owings TM, Ryder JW. "On-orbit evaluation of a new treadmill harness for improved crewmember comfort and load distribution: Results from ISS Increments 21 thru 25." Presented at the 18th IAA Humans in Space Symposium, Houston, TX, April 11-15, 2011.

18th IAA Humans in Space Symposium, Houston, TX, April 11-15, 2011. , Apr-2011

Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings Perusek GP, Sheehan CC, Savina MC, Gilkey KM, Novotny SC, Kuklis MM, Milstead JR, Henley BC, Streicher MC, Davis BL. "A new harness for use with exercise countermeasures: Validation of improved comfort and loading with the Center for Space Medicine harness." Presented at the 2009 NASA Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop, League City, TX, February 2-4, 2009.

2009 NASA Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop, League City, TX, February 2-4, 2009. Abstract #1007. , Feb-2009

Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals Novotny SC, Perusek GP, Rice AJ, Comstock BA, Bansal A, Cavanagh PR. "A harness for enhanced comfort and loading during treadmill exercise in space." Acta Astronaut. 2013 Aug-Sep;89:205-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2013.03.010 , Aug-2013
Awards Sheehan CC, Perusek GP. "Silver Snoopy (Astronauts' Personal Achievement Award), October 2009." Oct-2009
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Project Title:  A New Harness For Use with Exercise Countermeasures-Validation of Improved Comfort and Loading with the Center for Space Medicine (CSM) Harness Reduce
Fiscal Year: FY 2008 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP HHC:Human Health Countermeasures
 Start Date: 02/28/2008  
End Date: 03/31/2011  
Task Last Updated: 03/06/2009 		 Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Perusek, Gail  M.S. / NASA Glenn Research Center 
Address:  21000 Brookpark Road 
ISS and Human Research Project Office  
Cleveland , OH 44135 		 Email: Gail.P.Perusek@nasa.gov 
Phone: 216-433-8729   
Congressional District: 10 
Web:  
 Organization Type: NASA CENTER 
Organization Name: NASA Glenn Research Center 
Joint Agency:  
Comments:  
Project Information: 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor: Meck, J@n  
Center Contact: 281-244-5405 
janice.v.meck@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 7317  		Solicitation / Funding Source: Directed Research 
Project Type: FLIGHT 
Flight Program: ISS 
TechPort: Yes  		No. of Post Docs:  
No. of PhD Candidates:  
No. of Master's Candidates:  
No. of Bachelor's Candidates:   		No. of PhD Degrees:  
No. of Master's Degrees:  
No. of Bachelor's Degrees:  
Human Research Program Elements: (1) HHC:Human Health Countermeasures
Human Research Program Risks: (1) Muscle:Risk of Impaired Performance Due to Reduced Muscle Size, Strength and Endurance
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) M7:Develop the most efficient and effective exercise program for the maintenance of muscle function.
(2) M9:Identify and validate exploration countermeasure hardware for the maintenance of muscle function.
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: ISS

NOTE: End date changed to 3/31/2011 (from 9/1/2011) per discussion with PI (Ed., 2/25/2011)

NOTE: start/end dates changed per JSC info (3/1/10)

NOTE: start/end dates changed per JSC info (4/27/09)

Task Description: This Station Development Test Objective (SDTO) assesses whether crewmembers can exercise more comfortably and at higher loads using a new treadmill harness developed through the Center for Space Medicine (CSM) and identified as the CSM Harness, as compared to the existing International Space Station (ISS) treadmill harness. The hypotheses are as follows: i) the CSM Harness will provide greater overall comfort than the current U.S. TVIS harness (hereafter referred to as the ISS treadmill harness); ii) crewmembers will be able to tolerate higher external loads from the subject load device and/or Series Bungee System (SBS) Bungees; iii) load distribution measurements collected with strain-gage-based buckle transducer instrumentation between shoulders and hips will correlate with subjective measures of comfort; and iv) the CSM Harness will provide more effective wear and adjustability (easier adjustments, and adjustments will stay fixed once they are set, breathable biocide outer fabric, etc.).

The CSM Harness design has potential to improve comfort, wear, and adjustment effectiveness on-orbit. To support this SDTO, NASA GRC is delivering five (5) flight-certified CSM Harnesses with buckle transducer instrumentation and the instrumentation for 5 ISS treadmill harnesses at the locations shown in Figures 2-1A and B and 2-2, respectively. The buckle transducer instrumentation will converge at a junction box, which shall interface with the Ambulatory Data Acquisition System (ADAS) for data recording. The ADAS has previously flown as payload hardware sponsored by the ISS Medical Project (ISSMP) for the Foot Experiment (Experiment Identifier: #96-E318, ISS Expeditions 6, 8, 11, 12) and will be provided by ISSMP. Subject loading data will be collected for eight total sessions in-flight (4 with each harness) with each of five subjects as part of this SDTO. For these 8 sessions, a unique harness evaluation protocol will be followed for the crewmembers’ nominal treadmill exercise session.

The SDTO research protocol is aimed at improving comfort, plus increasing consistent loading for crewmembers exercising on the ISS treadmill(s). The CSM Harnesses will be instrumented to allow for objective correlation with subjective ratings of comfort. To provide a direct comparison with the ISS treadmill harness, the load distribution and subject load device loading applied to the ISS treadmill harness will also be measured. The ISS treadmill harnesses will be instrumented by the crew on-orbit during a one-time set up activity. Current monitoring does not allow measurement of inflight load distribution of the harness or the applied external load – these objective data sets may be correlated with subjective comfort data for improved designs and for existing and advanced concept exercise countermeasures systems requiring crewmember harnessing.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits:

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2008 
Task Progress: New project for FY2008.

[Ed. note: added to Task Book in March 2009 when received information from JSC]

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 08/30/2018) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
 None in FY 2008
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