The neutral body posture (NBP) is the posture the human body naturally assumes in microgravity.[1] Adopting any other posture while floating requires muscular effort. In the 1980s, NASA developed the Man-System Integration Standards (MSIS), a set of guidelines based on anthropometry and biomechanics, which included a definition of an average typical NBP created from measurements of crew members in the microgravity environment onboard Skylab.[2] Still photographs taken on Skylab of crew members showed that in microgravity, the body assumed a distinguishable posture with the arms raised, the shoulder abducted, the knees flexed with noticeable hip flexion, and the foot plantar flexed.[3]
An averaged neutral body position as defined in MSISNeutral body postures for six crew members from Space Shuttle mission STS-57
Later work by NASA based on research aboard Space Shuttle mission STS-57 found greater individual variations between crew members' neutral body positions than originally suggested by the earlier Skylab study.[4] In general, three main postures were exhibited by the crew as a whole. These constituted (1) an almost standing posture, (2) a slightly pitched forward posture with an extreme bend at the knees, and (3) an elongated posture with a straight neck. Differences in posture exhibited in this study could be a result of the athletic bearing of the participants or the type of exercise, or both, and the amount of exercise regularly performed. Other differences may also stem from past physical injuries such as bone breaks and knee or shoulder injuries, and from gender differences such as center of gravity.[4] No single crew member exhibited the typical NBP called out in the MSIS standard.[4]
The neutral body posture occurs during a state of weightlessness and minimizes the body’s need to support itself against the pull of gravity. This offloads musculoskeletal stress and reduces pressure on the diaphragm and spine. Neutral body posture supports the natural curvature of the spine. A neutral spine that is not experiencing mechanical stress will curve inward at the neck (cervical region), outward at the upper back (thoracic region), and inward at the lower back (lumbar region).[5]
NASA standards for the neutral body position have informed seat design for commercial vehicle manufacturers. In 2005, engineers and scientists at Nissan Motor Company used NBP research in the development of driver’s seats in their new vehicles.[1]
^ ab"NASA Standards Inform Comfortable Car Seats". NASA. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
^"Man-System Integration Standards Volume I, Section 3: ANTHROPOMETRY AND BIOMECHANICS". NASA. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
^Top 50 Tech Services CEOs of 2019, K. S. Young, C. R. Reid, PhD, S. Rajulu, PhD, Lockheed Martin, NASA Johnson Space Center (2014). (PDF). Universities Space Research Association
^ abcFrances E. Mount, Mihriban Whitmore and Sheryl L. Stealey (February 2003). (PDF). NASA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2003-04-26.
neutral, body, posture, neutral, body, posture, posture, human, body, naturally, assumes, microgravity, adopting, other, posture, while, floating, requires, muscular, effort, 1980s, nasa, developed, system, integration, standards, msis, guidelines, based, anth. The neutral body posture NBP is the posture the human body naturally assumes in microgravity 1 Adopting any other posture while floating requires muscular effort In the 1980s NASA developed the Man System Integration Standards MSIS a set of guidelines based on anthropometry and biomechanics which included a definition of an average typical NBP created from measurements of crew members in the microgravity environment onboard Skylab 2 Still photographs taken on Skylab of crew members showed that in microgravity the body assumed a distinguishable posture with the arms raised the shoulder abducted the knees flexed with noticeable hip flexion and the foot plantar flexed 3 An averaged neutral body position as defined in MSIS Neutral body postures for six crew members from Space Shuttle mission STS 57 Later work by NASA based on research aboard Space Shuttle mission STS 57 found greater individual variations between crew members neutral body positions than originally suggested by the earlier Skylab study 4 In general three main postures were exhibited by the crew as a whole These constituted 1 an almost standing posture 2 a slightly pitched forward posture with an extreme bend at the knees and 3 an elongated posture with a straight neck Differences in posture exhibited in this study could be a result of the athletic bearing of the participants or the type of exercise or both and the amount of exercise regularly performed Other differences may also stem from past physical injuries such as bone breaks and knee or shoulder injuries and from gender differences such as center of gravity 4 No single crew member exhibited the typical NBP called out in the MSIS standard 4 The neutral body posture occurs during a state of weightlessness and minimizes the body s need to support itself against the pull of gravity This offloads musculoskeletal stress and reduces pressure on the diaphragm and spine Neutral body posture supports the natural curvature of the spine A neutral spine that is not experiencing mechanical stress will curve inward at the neck cervical region outward at the upper back thoracic region and inward at the lower back lumbar region 5 NASA standards for the neutral body position have informed seat design for commercial vehicle manufacturers In 2005 engineers and scientists at Nissan Motor Company used NBP research in the development of driver s seats in their new vehicles 1 See also editFetal positionReferences edit a b NASA Standards Inform Comfortable Car Seats NASA Retrieved 28 May 2015 Man System Integration Standards Volume I Section 3 ANTHROPOMETRY AND BIOMECHANICS NASA Retrieved 28 May 2015 Top 50 Tech Services CEOs of 2019 K S Young C R Reid PhD S Rajulu PhD Lockheed Martin NASA Johnson Space Center 2014 PDF Universities Space Research Association a b c Frances E Mount Mihriban Whitmore and Sheryl L Stealey February 2003 NASA TM 2003 104805 Evaluation of Neutral Body Posture on Shuttle Mission STS 57 SPACEHAB 1 PDF NASA Archived from the original PDF on 2003 04 26 Understanding Neutral Spine Position and the Core Muscles Team USA Retrieved 18 December 2020 nbsp This space or spaceflight related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This anatomy article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Neutral body posture amp oldid 1175912205, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
