Artificial gravity: Applications beyond NASA

The United States elderly population is rapidly expanding and consuming a greater percentage of health care services. They are at increased risk to the deconditioning effects of hospital bed rest which may ultimately lead to loss of function and decreased quality of life. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is conducting research regarding the effects of bed rest since it mimics physiologic changes seen in astronauts post-flight. As part of the study, they have incorporated use of a short-arm centrifuge to act as a countermeasure. Hospitalized, elderly patients may also benefit from the use of artificial gravity as part of their overall rehabilitation scheme. This paper explores these concepts as well as proposes a preliminary study to test the feasibility of artificial gravity in a hospitalized elderly population.