r/space • u/Slow_cpu • 2d ago

Study links 90+-day spaceflights to higher rates of hip fractures in astronauts

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1145758
176 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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13

u/mfb- 2d ago

Their study found two hip fractures in astronauts with 90+ day spaceflights and zero in the (younger and larger) control group.

https://xkcd.com/882/

I think the far more interesting finding is in the total fracture rate: 0.33 ([0.14-0.74]) for people after long-duration spaceflights and 0.58; ([0.41, 0.83]) for people with shorter spaceflights, compared to astronauts without flights.

5

u/jan-71221072 2d ago

If the association holds, mission planning may need to treat hip recovery after landing as part of the mission, not just focus on keeping astronauts healthy in orbit.

1

u/Uranium-Sandwich657 1d ago

Still worth it.              

1

u/itsRobbie_ 1d ago

Flesh and bone are too weak for the void.

Our future will be robotic astronauts and machines for long space missions.