Space Medicine

In this medical find out how space medicine helps researchers fight heart disease, osteoporosis and balance disorders.

Jennifer Matthews: Exercising in air on the zero-gravity locomotion simulator. A virtual reality treadmill. A machine named The Jolly Jumper that analyzes motion and its impact on our bones. These experiments at Cleveland Clinic's Space Lab teach researchers everything from how to prevent bone loss to how to help people with balance disorders. Doctor Brian Davis' mission -- how to maintain bone density in space. Astronauts lose it ten-times faster than postmenopausal women -- who are most at risk. Dr. Brian Davis: There's a possibility that jumping has multiple benefits: musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and neurovestibular. Jennifer Matthews: This virtual realty treadmill may help those with inner ear problems. Dr. Susan D'Andrea: This could be used as a rehab tool -- a training tool -- where someone with a balance disorder could come and walk on it on a weekly basis and help to stimulate the balance system. Jennifer Matthews: Doctor Peter Cavanagh says space is a perfect environment for research because gravity and other variables disappear. Dr. Peter Cavanagh: We already know that the level of exercise that is being done by the astronauts on the International Space Station is not enough to prevent bone loss. That gives us leads for osteoporosis prevention on earth. Jennifer Matthews: Important because ten million Americans living with osteoporosis could benefit. Researchers say space exploration for medical advances is more than science fiction. It's becoming fact! This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.