TY - JOUR A1 - Zange, Jochen A1 - Schopen, Kathrin A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Gerlach, Darius A. A1 - Frings-Meuthen, Petra A1 - Maffiuletti, Nicola A. A1 - Bloch, Wilhelm A1 - Rittweger, Jörn T1 - Using the Hephaistos orthotic device to study countermeasure effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and dietary lupin protein supplementation, a randomised controlled trial JF - Plos one Y1 - 2017 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171562 VL - 12 IS - 2 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yang, Peng-Fei A1 - Kriechbaumer, Andreas A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Sanno, Maximilian A1 - Ganse, Bergita A1 - Koy, Timmo A1 - Shang, Peng A1 - brüggemann, Gert-Peter A1 - Müller, Lars Peter A1 - Rittweger, Jörn T1 - A novel optical approach for assessing in vivo bone segment deformation and its application in muscle-bone relationship studies in humans JF - Journal of Orthopaedic Translation Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jot.2014.07.078 SN - 2214-0328 SN - 2214-031X VL - 2 IS - 4 SP - 238 EP - 238 PB - Elsevier CY - Singapore ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rittweger, Jörn A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Flück, Martin A1 - Ruoss, Severin A1 - Brocca, Lorenza A1 - Longa, Emanuela A1 - Moriggi, Manuela A1 - Seynnes, Olivier A1 - Di Giulio, Irene A1 - Tenori, Leonardo A1 - Vignoli, Alessia A1 - Capri, Miriam A1 - Gelfi, Cecilia A1 - Luchinat, Claudio A1 - Franceschi, Claudio A1 - Bottinelli, Roberto A1 - Cerretelli, Paolo A1 - Narici, Marco T1 - Sarcolab pilot study into skeletal muscle’s adaptation to longterm spaceflight JF - npj Microgravity Y1 - 2018 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41526-018-0052-1 SN - 2373-8065 VL - 4 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Nature Portfolio ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Richter, Charlotte A1 - Braunstein, Björn A1 - Stäudle, Benjamin A1 - Attias, Julia A1 - Süss, Alexander A1 - Weber, Tobias A1 - Mileva, Katya N. A1 - Rittweger, Jörn A1 - Green, David A. A1 - Albracht, Kirsten T1 - Gastrocnemius medialis contractile behavior during running differs between simulated Lunar and Martian gravities JF - Scientific reports N2 - The international partnership of space agencies has agreed to proceed forward to the Moon sustainably. Activities on the Lunar surface (0.16 g) will allow crewmembers to advance the exploration skills needed when expanding human presence to Mars (0.38 g). Whilst data from actual hypogravity activities are limited to the Apollo missions, simulation studies have indicated that ground reaction forces, mechanical work, muscle activation, and joint angles decrease with declining gravity level. However, these alterations in locomotion biomechanics do not necessarily scale to the gravity level, the reduction in gastrocnemius medialis activation even appears to level off around 0.2 g, while muscle activation pattern remains similar. Thus, it is difficult to predict whether gastrocnemius medialis contractile behavior during running on Moon will basically be the same as on Mars. Therefore, this study investigated lower limb joint kinematics and gastrocnemius medialis behavior during running at 1 g, simulated Martian gravity, and simulated Lunar gravity on the vertical treadmill facility. The results indicate that hypogravity-induced alterations in joint kinematics and contractile behavior still persist between simulated running on the Moon and Mars. This contrasts with the concept of a ceiling effect and should be carefully considered when evaluating exercise prescriptions and the transferability of locomotion practiced in Lunar gravity to Martian gravity. KW - Bone quality and biomechanics KW - Environmental impact KW - Skeletal muscle KW - Tendons KW - Ultrasound Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-00527-9 SN - 2045-2322 N1 - Corresponding author: Charlotte Richter VL - 11 IS - Article number: 22555 PB - Springer Nature CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Liphardt, Anna-Maria A1 - Fernandez-Gonzalo, Rodrigo A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Rittweger, Jörn A1 - Vico, Laurence T1 - Musculoskeletal research in human space flight – unmet needs for the success of crewed deep space exploration JF - npj Microgravity N2 - Based on the European Space Agency (ESA) Science in Space Environment (SciSpacE) community White Paper “Human Physiology – Musculoskeletal system”, this perspective highlights unmet needs and suggests new avenues for future studies in musculoskeletal research to enable crewed exploration missions. The musculoskeletal system is essential for sustaining physical function and energy metabolism, and the maintenance of health during exploration missions, and consequently mission success, will be tightly linked to musculoskeletal function. Data collection from current space missions from pre-, during-, and post-flight periods would provide important information to understand and ultimately offset musculoskeletal alterations during long-term spaceflight. In addition, understanding the kinetics of the different components of the musculoskeletal system in parallel with a detailed description of the molecular mechanisms driving these alterations appears to be the best approach to address potential musculoskeletal problems that future exploratory-mission crew will face. These research efforts should be accompanied by technical advances in molecular and phenotypic monitoring tools to provide in-flight real-time feedback. Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41526-023-00258-3 SN - 2373-8065 VL - 9 IS - Article number: 9 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Springer Nature ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Herssens, Nolan A1 - Cowburn, James A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Braunstein, Bjoern A1 - Cazzola, Dario A1 - Colyer, Steffi A1 - Minetti, Alberto E. A1 - Pavei, Gaspare A1 - Rittweger, Jörn A1 - Weber, Tobias A1 - Green, David A. ED - Cattaneo, Luigi T1 - Movement in low gravity environments (MoLo) programme – the MoLo-L.O.O.P. study protocol JF - PLOS ONE / Public Library of Science N2 - Exposure to prolonged periods in microgravity is associated with deconditioning of the musculoskeletal system due to chronic changes in mechanical stimulation. Given astronauts will operate on the Lunar surface for extended periods of time, it is critical to quantify both external (e.g., ground reaction forces) and internal (e.g., joint reaction forces) loads of relevant movements performed during Lunar missions. Such knowledge is key to predict musculoskeletal deconditioning and determine appropriate exercise countermeasures associated with extended exposure to hypogravity. Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278051 SN - 1932-6203 VL - 17 IS - 11 PB - Plos CY - San Francisco ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Heieis, Jule A1 - Böcker, Jonas A1 - D'Angelo, Olfa A1 - Mittag, Uwe A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Schönau, Eckhard A1 - Meyer, Andreas A1 - Voigtmann, Thomas A1 - Rittweger, Jörn T1 - Curvature of gastrocnemius muscle fascicles as function of muscle–tendon complex length and contraction in humans JF - Physiological Reports N2 - It has been shown that muscle fascicle curvature increases with increasing contraction level and decreasing muscle–tendon complex length. The analyses were done with limited examination windows concerning contraction level, muscle–tendon complex length, and/or intramuscular position of ultrasound imaging. With this study we aimed to investigate the correlation between fascicle arching and contraction, muscle–tendon complex length and their associated architectural parameters in gastrocnemius muscles to develop hypotheses concerning the fundamental mechanism of fascicle curving. Twelve participants were tested in five different positions (90°/105°*, 90°/90°*, 135°/90°*, 170°/90°*, and 170°/75°*; *knee/ankle angle). They performed isometric contractions at four different contraction levels (5%, 25%, 50%, and 75% of maximum voluntary contraction) in each position. Panoramic ultrasound images of gastrocnemius muscles were collected at rest and during constant contraction. Aponeuroses and fascicles were tracked in all ultrasound images and the parameters fascicle curvature, muscle–tendon complex strain, contraction level, pennation angle, fascicle length, fascicle strain, intramuscular position, sex and age group were analyzed by linear mixed effect models. Mean fascicle curvature of the medial gastrocnemius increased with contraction level (+5 m−1 from 0% to 100%; p = 0.006). Muscle–tendon complex length had no significant impact on mean fascicle curvature. Mean pennation angle (2.2 m−1 per 10°; p < 0.001), inverse mean fascicle length (20 m−1 per cm−1; p = 0.003), and mean fascicle strain (−0.07 m−1 per +10%; p = 0.004) correlated with mean fascicle curvature. Evidence has also been found for intermuscular, intramuscular, and sex-specific intramuscular differences of fascicle curving. Pennation angle and the inverse fascicle length show the highest predictive capacities for fascicle curving. Due to the strong correlations between pennation angle and fascicle curvature and the intramuscular pattern of curving we suggest for future studies to examine correlations between fascicle curvature and intramuscular fluid pressure. KW - biomechanics KW - connective tissue KW - physiology KW - ultrasound Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.14814/phy2.15739 SN - 2051-817X VL - 11 IS - 11 SP - e15739, Seite 1-11 PB - Wiley ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Capri, Miriam A1 - Morsiani, Cristina A1 - Santoro, Aurelia A1 - Moriggi, Manuela A1 - Conte, Maria A1 - Martucci, Morena A1 - Bellavista, Elena A1 - Fabbri, Cristina A1 - Giampieri, Enrico A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Flück, Martin A1 - Ruoss, Severin A1 - Brocca, Lorenza A1 - Canepari, Monica A1 - Longa, Emanuela A1 - Giulio, Irene Di A1 - Bottinelli, Roberto A1 - Cerretelli, Paolo A1 - Salvioli, Stefano A1 - Gelfi, Cecilia A1 - Franceschi, Claudio A1 - Narici, Marco A1 - Rittweger, Jörn T1 - Recovery from 6-month spaceflight at the International Space Station: muscle-related stress into a proinflammatory setting JF - The FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1096/fj.201801625R VL - 33 IS - 4 SP - 5168 EP - 5180 ER -