Everything Everywhere Daily · Monday, June 29, 2026
Current methods to combat the negative effects of weightlessness on astronauts include rigorous exercise routines using specialized equipment like treadmills and resistive devices, along with diet, vitamin D, medication, and hydration. While these measures have improved crew condition, they are imperfect substitutes for gravity.
“The main thing currently used to offset these problems is exercise. ISS astronauts typically use a treadmill with a harness, a stationary cycle and a resistive exercise device that mimics weight lifting.”
“Diet, vitamin D, medication, hydration, monitoring and medical imaging also help.”
“However, exercise is an imperfect substitute. It takes time, requires bulky equipment, stresses joints in unnatural ways and does not reproduce gravity's continuous whole body effects.”