---
title: "NASA Concerned That Space Is Destroying Astronauts’ Spines"
description: "Scientists are worried that spending prolonged periods of time in the microgravity of space could have negative effects on the spines of astronauts."
date: "2021-05-18"
modified: "2021-05-18"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/nasa-concerned-space-destroying-astronauts-spines"
categories:
  - "NASA"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "astronaut health"
  - "astronauts"
  - "NASA"
---

# NASA Concerned That Space Is Destroying Astronauts’ Spines

![Scientists are worried that spending prolonged periods of time in the microgravity of space could have negative effects on the spines of astronauts.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/nasa-concerned-space-destroying-astronauts-spines.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:ISS-44_Kimiya_Yui_and_Kjell_Lindgren_in_the_Destiny_module.jpg" target="\_blank"\>NASA\</a\>\</em\>*

Scientists are worried that spending prolonged periods of time in the microgravity of space could have negative effects on the spines of astronauts.

Without the continuous downward pressure from gravity, the living tissues of bones can lose density over time, as has been shown in [previous research](<https://www.nature.com/articles/s41526-020-0103-2>).

"Spinal health is integral to postural control and facilitating the core trunk movements required for all activities on mission," explained Ashley Weaver, a biomedical engineer at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, in a [NASA statement](<https://www.nasa.gov/feature/astronauts-spines-under-scrutiny>). "So, it’s crucial that we understand how these muscle changes are influenced by long-duration exposure to microgravity."

By looking at how muscle and bone mass change after spending some time in space using magnetic resonance imaging, Weaver and her team are trying to figure out how one affects the other.

In 2016, a different team of researchers found that the muscles supporting the astronauts' spines [were weakening](<https://www.livescience.com/56639-astronauts-back-pain-has-surprising-cause.html>), causing some to experience back pain.

Without the downward pressure, spines also tend to lengthen, sometimes leading to unusual results.

"I've only been in space for three weeks and haven't grown like this since middle school," Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai [tweeted](<https://twitter.com/Astro_Kanai/status/950479226330865670>) back in 2018, as [translated by *Newsweek*](<https://www.newsweek.com/astronaut-grows-35-inches-space-may-not-fit-spacecraft-seat-ride-home-775289>), noting that he grew an astonishing nine centimeters in just three weeks.

"I'm a little worried if my body will fit in the Soyuz seat on my way home," Kanai added.

Most recently, Weaver and her team have collected scans from nine astronauts who each spent more than half a year aboard the International Space Station.

"Now that all scanning is complete, we' re looking forward to learning what bone and muscle changes occur during space missions and how these relate to injury risk," Weaver said.

Fortunately, astronauts aren't completely hopeless. Scientists are coming up with specific exercises to slow down the loss of bone and muscle tissues and have seen varying degrees of success — but exercise [won't be able to entirely slow down](<https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/benefits/bone_loss.html>) bone and muscle loss by itself.

Keeping astronauts and their spines healthy will only become more relevant as humans spend more and more time in space, completing journeys to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

**READ MORE:** [Astronauts’ Spines Under Scrutiny](<https://www.nasa.gov/feature/astronauts-spines-under-scrutiny>) \[NASA\]

**More on bone loss:** *[Researchers Built a “Gravity Suit” to Keep Astronauts Healthy](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/gravity-suit-astronaut-health>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)