MRI shows space travel can be a pain in the back

Of all the reasons you've got a sore back, a new study in Spine, published by Wolters Kluwer, raises another cause—though this one isn't going to overheard at the chiropractor's office. Researchers studying astronauts found that space travel can cause atrophy of the spine that does not return to normal with their reentry to Earth.

The study included MRI scans on six astronauts before and after spending four to seven months at the International Space Station. Results showed back pain as common in those with prolonged missions; more than half reported spinal pain, and astronauts were four times more likely to have spinal disc herniation compared to a control group.

Researchers recommended core-strengthening exercises and yoga may be solutions in avoiding a weak spine in space.

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