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'Rocket Science' to help Britain's elderly

January 09, 2004

Helping an elderly person up the stairs may not seem rocket science - but look again, perhaps it is. Scientists studying the effects of space flight on humans are applying their findings to the elderly population on earth after discovering that the effects of micro-gravity on astronauts are greatly similar to the effects of ageing.

Researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) are adapting methods developed for the European space programme to help elderly people improve their mobility and quality of life. In people over 70 years of age, the researchers have noted considerable improvements in strength and locomotive ability among those who undergo exercise programmes, particularly routines designed for astronauts.

Marco Narici, Professor of Biomechanics, who heads the Better Ageing Project at MMU has recently carried out experiments in muscle loss under conditions of micro-gravity at the European Space Agency in Toulouse.* Professor Narici said: "Before, we ran the two projects separately; ageing on the one hand and muscle loss in micro-gravity on the other. Now we think we are looking at the same thing and that the areas of study are complementary."

Professor Narici and his team at MMU's Department of Exercise and Sport Science, employed an exercise machine known as the 'yo-yo machine', which is designed for use in the International Space Station and uses a fly-wheel pressure system which is resistance non-dependent. Twice-weekly exercise programmes were developed for volunteers over 70, some of whom were physically active and some who were not. After six months the volunteers could, on average, walk 55 yards further in a six-minute walk (completing 630 yards before and 685 yards after training), and could balance on one leg** for 4.5 seconds compared to 3 seconds before training. A further test showed elderly volunteers could perform a 'get-up-and-go' exercise 10 per cent quicker after training. ***

Professor Narici said the findings were significant, in the first instance, because muscle strength in the very old has not been widely studied: "We could predict some muscle growth and increased strength but we didn't know how much. These tests have proved there is considerable potential even in the very old for exercise to stimulate strength, mobility and quality of life."

And he said the discovery of resistance-free exercise methods was particularly important: "As we have found in astronauts and in the bed-ridden, prolonged inactivity accelerates ageing. By employing the fly-wheel technology we have achieved much better performances from the elderly volunteers and have a starker picture of the potential benefits of exercise."

Manchester Metropolitan University