Therapeutic Benefits of Short-Arm Human Centrifugation in Multiple Sclerosis-A New Approach

Chrysoula Kourtidou-Papadeli; Christos A Frantzidis; Christos Bakirtzis; Anatoli Petridou; Sotiria Gilou; Aliki Karkala; Ilias Machairas; Nikolaos Kantouris; Christiane M Nday; Emmanouil V Dermitzakis; Eleftherios Bakas; Vassilis Mougios; Panagiotis D Bamidis; Joan Vernikos

doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.746832

Therapeutic Benefits of Short-Arm Human Centrifugation in Multiple Sclerosis-A New Approach

Front Neurol. 2022 Jan 4:12:746832. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.746832. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Chrysoula Kourtidou-Papadeli^{1

2

3

4}, Christos A Frantzidis^{1

2}, Christos Bakirtzis⁵, Anatoli Petridou⁶, Sotiria Gilou¹, Aliki Karkala², Ilias Machairas¹, Nikolaos Kantouris², Christiane M Nday¹, Emmanouil V Dermitzakis⁴, Eleftherios Bakas³, Vassilis Mougios⁶, Panagiotis D Bamidis^{1

2}, Joan Vernikos^{2

7}

Affiliations

¹ Biomedical Engineering and Aerospace Neuroscience (BEAN), Laboratory of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
² Greek Aerospace Medical Association and Space Research (GASMA-SR), Thessaloniki, Greece.
³ Laboratory of Aerospace and Rehabilitation Applications "Joan Vernikos", AROGI Rehabilitation Centre, Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁴ Aeromedical Center of Thessaloniki (AeMC), Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁵ Department of Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis Center, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁶ Laboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, School of Physical Education and Sport Science at Thessaloniki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁷ Thirdage LLC, Culpeper, VA, United States.

Abstract

Short-arm human centrifugation (SAHC) is proposed as a robust countermeasure to treat deconditioning and prevent progressive disability in a case of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Based on long-term physiological knowledge derived from space medicine and missions, artificial gravity training seems to be a promising physical rehabilitation approach toward the prevention of musculoskeletal decrement due to confinement and inactivity. So, the present study proposes a novel infrastructure based on SAHC to investigate the hypothesis that artificial gravity ameliorates the degree of disability. The patient was submitted to a 4-week training programme including three weekly sessions of 30 min of intermittent centrifugation at 1.5-2 g. During sessions, cardiovascular, muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂) and electroencephalographic (EEG) responses were monitored, whereas neurological and physical performance tests were carried out before and after the intervention. Cardiovascular parameters improved in a way reminiscent of adaptations to aerobic exercise. SmO₂ decreased during sessions concomitant with increased g load, and, as training progressed, SmO₂ of the suffering limb dropped, both effects suggesting increased oxygen use, similar to that seen during hard exercise. EEG showed increased slow and decreased fast brain waves, with brain reorganization/plasticity evidenced through functional connectivity alterations. Multiple-sclerosis-related disability and balance capacity also improved. Overall, this study provides novel evidence supporting SAHC as a promising therapeutic strategy in multiple sclerosis, based on mechanical loading, thereby setting the basis for future randomized controlled trials.

Keywords: artificial gravity; brain plasticity; case report; expanded disability status scale; muscle oxygenation; secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.