Astronauts who spend a long time in space can face problems when they return to earth. Weightlessness atrophies the muscles and decalcifies the skeleton. It doesn’t help to “pump iron.” Barbells and dumbbells are also weightless on a space voyage.
But Per Tesch and his colleagues have found a solution that functions like a reverse yo-yo. The inertia of a rotating flywheel is exploited to create resistance. The astronaut velcros him/herself in place and pulls a cord that is connected to the flywheel. The wheel only weighs a couple of kilos, but its diameter makes the inertia considerable, and the load on the muscles and skeleton is at least as great as in weight training.
Per Tesch has researched the topic for 15 years on commission from both the Swedish National Space Board and its American counterpart, NASA. The “yo-yo” is now being tested in space for first time. It was recently delivered by the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis to the ISS, which is part of a European laboratory.
“It’s fantastic. I have been working a long time for this,” says Per Tesch.
He hasn’t received any reports about how it’s going.
“It’s still secret, but we’ll know in a few months.”
Per Tesch was appointed professor of sports science at Mid Sweden University last autumn. The findings from his research in space physiology will be put to use in developing training methods for sports, exercise, and rehabilitation.
Per Tesch, professor, phone: +46 (0)76-821 92 19; e-mail: per.tesch@miun.se
26 April, 2013 - Mittuniversitetet
On the 7th of May, ABBA The Museum and The Swedish Music Hall of Fame in Stockholm, Sweden, will open their gates to visitors from around the world. Current research at the European Tourism Research Institute (ETOUR), Mid Sweden University, shows that half of the ABBA fans have travelled ten times or more because of their interest in ABBA.
19 November, 2012 - Mittuniversitetet
Researchers from Sportstech Additive Manufacturing Group at Mid Sweden University have verified the patented technology of the Swedish company Exmet AB by succeeding in making the world first sample of iron based bulk metallic glass (BMG, also amorphous metal or glassy alloy) using electron beam manufacturing technology. This may be a breakthrough in the manufacturing of BMG components.
14 November, 2011 - Mittuniversitetet
In the last couple of years, the two small American towns of Forks and La Push have been visited by hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people a day. These visitors photograph the local school, doctor’s office, and residential houses – all in pursuit of an authentic Twilight experience. Tourism researchers at Mid Sweden University are now releasing the first book about the fans and the tourism that has emerged, ”I populärkulturturismens fotspår – Twilight + Vacation = Twication©” [Following the footprints of popular culture tourism – Twilight + Vacation = Twication©].
23 February, 2011 - Mittuniversitetet
FSCN, the Fibre Science and Communication Network research center at Mid Sweden University will pursue research on energy-efficient production of mechanical and chemimechanical pulping processes. This will be done in collaboration with the companies SCA, Stora Enso, Holmen, Metso, and Andritz. Mid Sweden University will receive SEK 36 million from the Knowledge Foundation, and the business community will make research commitments corresponding in value to the Knowledge Foundation investment. On top of this, the University is providing SEK 12 million.
Expertsvar, The Swedish Research Council, Hantverkargatan 11B, Stockholm SWEDENPhone +46(0)8 546 44 000
P.O. Box 1035, SE-101 38 Stockholm, expertsvar@vr.se
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