Overcoming the negative Effects of microgravity on the human musculoskeletal system

The negative effects on the human musculoskeletal system of spending prolonged periods of time in a reduced gravity environment are well known and documented. Astronauts in space suffer a loss of bone and muscle mass, especially in the lower extremities, which they try to counteract by exercising for at least 2 hours a day while in space. The Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) is a complex piece of equipment on the International Space Station that is especially designed to provide a resistive type of exercise that helps astronauts maintain muscle mass. You can imagine that this equipment would have taken a lot of time and money to develop and validate, requiring the skills of a team of biomedical engineers and physiologists. However, you don't have to be a NASA engineer or have a PhD to come up with a good idea, as borne out by the creative mind of Frank Calvin, former US marine and law-enforcement officer, who recently sent us a video of his patented exercise harness. We liked the simplicity and effectiveness of his idea, so we thought we would throw open today's blog to Frank from Warren, Ohio!

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My design is a simple device which is worn over the shoulders and stretched to under the feet, and it will provide an additional 25-30 pounds of pressure on the supporting skeletal system, in a head-to-toe gravity vector (to quote Dr. Joan Vernikos). 

This simple “harness” device was originally designed for enhancing athletic performance, but it can be worn in any environment at any time. It is lightweight and unencumbering, can be used in an upright or reclined position, and will improve the posture in minutes, strengthening the lower back, glutes and legs just by wearing it.  I call it “Passive Strength Training”.
Through simple experiments over a period of time, the harness will act as its own wearable exercise device, which will also strengthen the upper body and limbs with the aid of a lightweight 31” pipe/tube (see video above). With simple adjustments the harness can provide more or less pressure.  However, for the most part, one size fits all!

     Use it to exercise the below, and more!: 

• Chest press
• Overhead military press
• Bicep curls normal & reverse
• Wrist curls normal & reverse
• Triceps 
• Adductor
• Abductor
• Calf
• Tibialis anterior 

"IF IT WORKS IN WATER IT WILL WORK IN SPACE"  - says Frank Calvin

​Imagine wearing a 30lb backpack and jumping into the deep end a swimming pool - you will sink like a rock! But wear  the harness and jump into the deep end of the pool. and you will stay afloat as normal, but when treading water or doggy paddling, the quads and lower back are immediately being worked and the 25-30lb of pressure remains on the core system. All movements mentioned can be made in a weightless environment.
In conclusion, I submit that muscle mass can be GAINED, along with prevention of bone density loss in microgravity with the aid of this harness, which is low-cost, light and easy to use!

From an InnovaSpace point of view, it certainly does seem to be a very simple and low-cost idea, and it would probably be interesting if the harness could form part of a research project conducted inside and outside of water in order to validate the system and define its effectiveness. We congratulate Frank on his idea and wish him well for the future of his device!