Tests and exercises to help astronauts correct their balance and gait could also be applied to older people with mobility problems.

When astronauts return from space they walk with an unsteady gait, taking up to two weeks to recover normal walking. Scientists at the National Space Biomedical Research Institute are now working with a new treadmill training system, which they say could shorten or even remove the balance problems that develop in flight. It's not escaped their attention that these new methods could be applied to help older people stay steady on their feet, and avoid falls.

The researchers are looking at how the astronauts perform on an integrated set of tests - an obstacle course, a treadmill and a visual acuity test. This will help them understand what happens to balance and mobility in space and so develop positive solutions. When they walk on the treadmill, for instance, each aspect of the person's motion can be analyzed with sensors. Imbalances can be corrected with the right kind of exercises, once these are completely understood. Further development of these diagnostic and corrective tools may lead to new ways of helping older people keep their balance.

Source

National Space Biomedical Research Institute 25th June 2003