ISS-44_Kjell_Lindgren_exercises_using_the_Advanced_Resistive_Exercise_Device

The Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) is an exercise device designed by

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...

to allow for more intense workouts in

zero gravity Weightlessness is the complete or near-complete absence of the sensation of weight. It is also termed zero gravity, zero G-force, or zero-G. Weight is a measurement of the force on an object at rest in a relatively strong gravitational fie ...

. The device was flown to the

International Space Station The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest modular space station currently in low Earth orbit. It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA ...

during

STS-126 STS-126 was the one hundred and twenty-fourth NASA Space Shuttle mission, and twenty-second orbital flight of the ''Space Shuttle Endeavour'' (OV-105) to the International Space Station (ISS). The purpose of the mission, referred to as ULF2 by ...

and installed in 2009 to replace its inefficient predecessor, the Interim Resistance Exercise Device. The device uses a system of vacuum tubes and flywheel cables to simulate the process of free weight exercises, such as

squats Squat, squatter or squatting may refer to: Body position * Squatting position, a sitting position where one's knees are folded with heels touching one's buttocks or back of the thighs * Squat (exercise), a lower-body exercise in strength and co ...

, deadlifts, and

calf raises Calf raises are a method of exercising the triceps surae (gastrocnemius and soleus), tibialis posterior, and peroneal muscles of the lower leg. The movement performed is plantar flexion, also called ankle extension. Bent-knee Calf raises are somet ...

, workouts which more effectively prevent lower

muscle atrophy Muscle atrophy is the loss of skeletal muscle mass. It can be caused by immobility, aging, malnutrition, medications, or a wide range of injuries or diseases that impact the musculoskeletal or nervous system. Muscle atrophy leads to muscle weakness ...

, though it has the capability to workout any muscle group. The ARED device can accommodate all

astronaut An astronaut (from the Ancient Greek (), meaning 'star', and (), meaning 'sailor') is a person trained, equipped, and deployed by a human spaceflight program to serve as a commander or crew member aboard a spacecraft. Although generally r ...

s on the ISS. Astronauts can lose approximately 15% overall muscle mass throughout a long mission and up to 30% of their lower-body muscle mass. The reason for the change from iRED is that the ARED can deliver up to , double that of the iRED. Specifically, the ARED can support for bar workouts and for cable workouts. The device works through the use of two mechanisms: # Pistons inside of the vacuum tube moving within to create resistance. The piston rods are attached to the arm base as a

lever A lever is a simple machine consisting of a beam or rigid rod pivoted at a fixed hinge, or ''fulcrum''. A lever is a rigid body capable of rotating on a point on itself. On the basis of the locations of fulcrum, load and effort, the lever is div ...

. # The cable-powered flywheel assembly. This mimics the force of free weights.

References

{{reflist Science facilities on the International Space Station Exercise equipment

See also

References