I know this may sound like a bazaar subject to talk about but I recently read this in one of my journals. The Orthopaedic Research Society or ORS at their annual meeting recently highlighted how our astronauts have an increased risk for herniated disks.
The article goes on to say that “Without gravity loading, spinal disks swell, trunk muscles atrophy, and vertebrae become osteoporotic. This creates a triple jeopardy for astronauts and a major hurdle for future long-duration space travel, such as planned missions to Mars.”
Research will continue to look into the effects of disk hydration, bone loss, and other tissue differences in how they relate to the spine.