Journal d'ergonomie
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Abstrait

Ergonomic Challenges for Astronauts during Space Travel and the Need for Space Medicine

Martin Braddock*

Engaging in and enduring space travel renders the human body exposed to a wide variety of acute and chronic stimuli which may necessitate pharmacological intervention. Such ergonomic challenges have led to coping and mitigation strategies and from the pioneering days of space travel in the 1950s to the current day, medications have been available on demand and proven successful in the treatment of conditions such as motion sickness, diarrhea and depression. Longer term space travel within and beyond the Solar system will require both a more detailed understanding of human tolerance to living in ergonomically challenging environment in space and new methods to manage and maintain the effectiveness of medicines to provide adequate and complete healthcare for astronauts.