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Regional changes in muscle mass following 17 weeks of bed rest
Abstract
This work reports on the muscle loss and recovery after 17 wk of continuous bed rest and 8 wk of reambulation in eight normal male volunteers. Muscle changes were assessed by urinary levels of 3-methylhistidine (3-MeH), nitrogen balance, dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and isokinetic muscle performance. The total body lean tissue loss during bed rest calculated from nitrogen balance was 3.9 +/- 2.1 (SD) kg (P < 0.05). Although the total loss is minimal, DPA scans showed that nearly all of the lean tissue loss occurred in the lower limbs. Similarly, MRI muscle volume measurements showed greater percent loss in the limbs relative to the back muscles. MRI, DPA, and nitrogen balance suggest that muscle atrophy continued throughout bed rest with rapid recovery after reambulation. Isokinetic muscle strength decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the thigh and calf with no loss in the arms and with rapid recovery during reambulation. We conclude that there is great variability in the degree and location of muscle loss in bed rest and that the lower limb muscles are primarily affected.
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In the citing paper
“LeBlanc et al. reported a total body lean mass loss of 2.6 kg following 119 days of bed rest in healthy young males; of this, 2.4 kg was from the legs (0.14 kg·wk-1) [10].”
From Protecting muscle mass and function in older adults during bed rest (2010) · cites this paper as [10]
In the citing paper
“In young, healthy adults subjected to bed rest, the loss of lower body lean mass appears to be on the order of 100-200 g·wk-1.”
From Protecting muscle mass and function in older adults during bed rest (2010) · cites this paper as [10]
In the citing paper
“Inactivity-induced loss of muscle mass predominantly affects the lower body musculature and is most rapid during the initials days/weeks of inactivity [9-11].”
From Protecting muscle mass and function in older adults during bed rest (2010) · cites this paper as [10]
In the citing paper
“In young adults, routine measures such as isokinetic torque and isotonic strength of the knee extensors have typically revealed decreases on the order of 5-6% per week for the first several weeks of bed rest (e.g., 23% after 28 days) [10,11].”
From Protecting muscle mass and function in older adults during bed rest (2010) · cites this paper as [10]
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Mitsiopoulos, N., Baumgartner, R. N., Heymsfield, S. B., Lyons, W., Gallagher, D., & Ross, R. (1998) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/jappl.1998.85.1.115 · Cited by 1,522
From space to Earth: Advances in human physiology from 20 years of bed rest studies (1986–2006)
Pavy-Le Traon, A., Heer, M., Narici, M. V., Rittweger, J., & Vernikos, J. (2007) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/s00421-007-0474-z · Cited by 658
“Back and leg muscles show significant atrophy in the early weeks of bed rest (LeBlanc et al. 1992).”
BackgroundPhysiology of a Microgravity Environment Invited Review: Microgravity and skeletal muscle
Fitts, R. H., Riley, D. R., & Widrick, J. J. (2000) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/jappl.2000.89.2.823 · Cited by 548
Functional Impact of 10 Days of Bed Rest in Healthy Older Adults
Kortebein, P., Symons, T. B., Ferrando, A., Paddon-Jones, D., Ronsen, O., Protas, E., Conger, S., Lombeida, J., Wolfe, R., & Evans, W. J. (2008) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences · doi:10.1093/gerona/63.10.1076 · Cited by 550
“Leblanc and colleagues (19) found a similar reduction in knee extensor torque (but no significant change in knee flexion torque) after 1 week of bed rest.”
BackgroundInfluentialProlonged bed rest decreases skeletal muscle and whole body protein synthesis
Ferrando, A. A., Lane, H. W., Stuart, C. A., Davis-Street, J. E., & Wolfe, R. R. (1996) · American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism · doi:10.1152/ajpendo.1996.270.4.e627 · Cited by 498
Metadata
- Authors
- LeBlanc, A. D., Schneider, V. S., Evans, H. J., Pientok, C., Rowe, R., & Spector, E.
- Affiliations
- Baylor College of Medicine (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 1992-11-01
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 2172-2178
- ISSN
- 0161-7567 (ISSN-L)
- 8750-7587
- 1522-1601
- OpenAlex
- W2115227363
- Cited by
- 359
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 1.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5m01rr000350-28)
- National Center for Research Resources (RR-02558, RR-00350, M01RR002558)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Spaceflight effects on biology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Keywords
- disuse atrophy, bed rest, reambulation, muscle mass, lean tissue loss, lower limb muscles, muscle strength recovery, 3-methylhistidine, nitrogen balance, dual photon absorptiometry, muscle volume
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Atrophy, Body Weight, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Methylhistidines, Middle Aged, Muscles, Nitrogen, Organ Size, Rest, Absorptiometry, Photon
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