[Prevention of respiratory muscles deconditioning and deterioration of aerobic working capacity in prolonged weightlessness and hypokinesia].

According to the previous study [2], simulation of the physiological effects of weightlessness leads to deconditioning of the respiratory muscles which, in its turn, may be a factor impacting the aerobic working capacity. In the present work the experimental findings laid the basis for a physiological concept for medical/engineering requirements to countermeasures against deconditioning of the respiratory muscles, designing and laboratory and physiological testing of a prototype of training loading vest Elastik-R. The vest was shown to enhance speed and force qualities of the respiratory muscles in training athletes, to improve ventilation and gas-exchange functions of the lung, and to increase physical performance and aerobic capacity. Recommendations on utilization of the Elastik-R vest during space flight have been issued.