1 00:00:01,090 --> 00:00:06,600 >> So today we're here at the exercise facility where the astronauts come out and train on some 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,400 of the equipment that's onboard the Space Station. 3 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,380 And here with me today we have Lori Ploutz-Snyder. 4 00:00:12,380 --> 00:00:16,880 She is the Lead Scientist for exercise physiology and counter measures. 5 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:18,770 Welcome, Lisa, thank you for coming. 6 00:00:18,770 --> 00:00:23,690 First of all we were going to talk to you a little about a study that is currently ongoing. 7 00:00:23,690 --> 00:00:28,380 I believe there -- it happened once, started with the crew that is now down 8 00:00:28,380 --> 00:00:31,360 and they're also participating in this study now. 9 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:36,420 That study is called SPRINT and so first, just talk to us a little about what SPRINT is. 10 00:00:36,420 --> 00:00:38,700 Give us a brief overview if you will. 11 00:00:38,700 --> 00:00:42,790 >> Lori Ploutz-Snyder: SPRINT is an exercise research study that looks 12 00:00:42,790 --> 00:00:48,030 at integrated exercise program using aerobic and resistance exercise. 13 00:00:48,030 --> 00:00:51,950 And we're trying to come up with the most efficient exercise prescription 14 00:00:51,950 --> 00:00:56,640 to optimize the cardiovascular system, skeletal, muscle, and bone. 15 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:58,820 And it builds off of about two decades 16 00:00:58,820 --> 00:01:05,060 of previous NASA research evaluating individual systems and for the first time it's trying 17 00:01:05,060 --> 00:01:07,780 to bring together an integrated program 18 00:01:07,780 --> 00:01:12,270 to develop the best counter measures for overall fitness. 19 00:01:12,270 --> 00:01:13,360 >> That's a mouthful. 20 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:18,890 And so explain to me exactly what specifically is the crew doing. 21 00:01:18,890 --> 00:01:20,970 What kind of activities are they doing that would be different 22 00:01:20,970 --> 00:01:24,150 from what their normal exercise program would be? 23 00:01:24,150 --> 00:01:27,400 >> Lori Ploutz-Snyder: Yeah there are two main parts to the SPRINT program. 24 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:32,770 The first part is a set of ground based tests before and after flight 25 00:01:32,770 --> 00:01:37,630 to provide a really thorough assessment of the cardiovascular, muscle, and bone systems. 26 00:01:37,630 --> 00:01:44,310 And so these include maximal aerobic testing, different muscle power, muscle endurance, 27 00:01:44,310 --> 00:01:50,600 muscle strength, a variety of muscle performance tests, a muscle biopsy as well 28 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,940 as measurements for bone including QCT and DEXA. 29 00:01:53,940 --> 00:01:55,510 And so with these measurements pre 30 00:01:55,510 --> 00:02:01,350 and post-flight we'll get a really thorough assessment of the crew's physiologic function. 31 00:02:01,350 --> 00:02:05,670 And the second part of the study employs an in-flight component 32 00:02:05,670 --> 00:02:08,840 where they perform a new exercise prescription on ISS. 33 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:12,000 They use all of the same ISS equipment 34 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,570 but the way the exercises are prescribed is a little bit different. 35 00:02:15,570 --> 00:02:21,980 So we include aerobic intervals and that's how the study got its name, the SPRINT. 36 00:02:21,980 --> 00:02:27,210 So they do some sprinting on the cycle and the bicycle where they go at high intensity 37 00:02:27,210 --> 00:02:30,480 for short bouts and then have a rest period. 38 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:37,130 And we also have resistance exercise on the ARED [phonetic] that they perform three days a week. 39 00:02:37,130 --> 00:02:41,760 >> Okay so currently the crew is exercising two hours everyday. 40 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:43,490 Will that change with this experiment? 41 00:02:43,490 --> 00:02:45,780 Are they resting anytime? 42 00:02:45,780 --> 00:02:50,480 >> Lori Ploutz-Snyder: Yeah this experiment is evaluating a higher intensity exercise 43 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:55,130 prescription that can be done for shorter amounts of time and less frequently. 44 00:02:55,130 --> 00:02:58,030 >> Now, so are they more worn out the next day? 45 00:02:58,030 --> 00:03:01,960 They're going to have this rest time but they're actually, basically what I'm hearing from you is 46 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:03,960 that there's a more intense workout. 47 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,580 So is it problematic at all on the rest period? 48 00:03:07,580 --> 00:03:10,830 >> Lori Ploutz-Snyder: Well so far it's exceeded our expectations 49 00:03:10,830 --> 00:03:15,100 but we've only had one person complete the study but so far it seems to be working really well. 50 00:03:15,100 --> 00:03:16,070 >> So so far we have positive data. 51 00:03:16,070 --> 00:03:20,630 Now so one of the crew members who actually did this study is down. 52 00:03:20,630 --> 00:03:24,080 And we can't talk about personal data but can you share with us 53 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,880 if there was positive data from that study? 54 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:31,870 >> Lori Ploutz-Snyder: Yeah he exceeded our expectations and it went very well especially 55 00:03:31,870 --> 00:03:35,520 for the first person both in terms of the implementation. 56 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,490 There's a lot of new communications necessary in this study. 57 00:03:39,490 --> 00:03:44,190 One of the things I didn't mention before is that another novel part 58 00:03:44,190 --> 00:03:48,890 of this study is we evaluate how they're doing during their whole mission. 59 00:03:48,890 --> 00:03:56,130 So every 30 days they perform VO2 Max [phonetic] which tests the maximal aerobic capacity. 60 00:03:56,130 --> 00:03:58,890 >> That's that thing Lance Armstrong is really good at, correct? 61 00:03:58,890 --> 00:03:59,990 >> Lori Ploutz-Snyder: That's right. 62 00:03:59,990 --> 00:04:00,310 >> Right. 63 00:04:00,310 --> 00:04:01,920 >> Lori Ploutz-Snyder: One of the things. 64 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:07,700 [Chuckles] And we test that every 30 days so that we can keep an eye on their aerobic fitness 65 00:04:07,700 --> 00:04:11,550 and then we can adjust the prescription as necessary up 66 00:04:11,550 --> 00:04:13,630 or down depending how they're doing. 67 00:04:13,630 --> 00:04:18,120 We also have the first time measurements on ISS of muscle ultrasound. 68 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:24,110 So we're using the new ultrasound system to make measurements of the leg muscle size. 69 00:04:24,110 --> 00:04:29,270 And the crew members scan themselves and make measurements of their own muscle size. 70 00:04:29,270 --> 00:04:35,370 And we compare that with the loads they're doing on ARED to determine how well they're doing 71 00:04:35,370 --> 00:04:39,510 for the resistance exercise and we can adjust the prescription accordingly. 72 00:04:39,510 --> 00:04:43,210 And so this involved a lot of new implementation of communications 73 00:04:43,210 --> 00:04:46,130 to get this data quickly and coordinated. 74 00:04:46,130 --> 00:04:50,730 So both from the implementation standpoint and from the performance standpoint, 75 00:04:50,730 --> 00:04:53,550 our first subject was a great success. 76 00:04:53,550 --> 00:04:54,080 >> Awesome. 77 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,660 Well so first -- let's just go ahead and talk about some of this equipment that we have. 78 00:04:57,660 --> 00:04:59,640 I understand there are three main pieces. 79 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:01,460 We have one right here behind us. 80 00:05:01,460 --> 00:05:05,360 This is the advanced resistive exercise device and what other pieces 81 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,500 of equipment are you using during this study? 82 00:05:07,500 --> 00:05:10,550 >> Lori Ploutz-Snyder: So all of our resistance exercises are performed on the ARED 83 00:05:10,550 --> 00:05:13,070 or the advanced resistance exercise device. 84 00:05:13,070 --> 00:05:17,800 There's also a treadmill and a cycle up on the Space Station 85 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:24,860 and in the SPRINT program the participants exercise on both of those at least two-thirds 86 00:05:24,860 --> 00:05:27,060 of their aerobic exercise on the treadmill. 87 00:05:27,060 --> 00:05:27,700 >> Okay. 88 00:05:27,700 --> 00:05:29,790 >> Lori Ploutz-Snyder: So a little more treadmill than cycle. 89 00:05:29,790 --> 00:05:30,860 >> Okay great. 90 00:05:30,860 --> 00:05:34,440 So I know -- we know what the cycle is and a treadmill is 91 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:39,320 but the advanced resistive exercise device basically is a piece of equipment 92 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,520 that simulates weightlessness here on earth.