After spending nine months stranded on the International Space Station, astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are now faced with a long recovery process upon returning to Earth. They may have lost significant muscle mass and bone density, requiring extensive rehabilitation that could last over a year. Their recovery will involve a tailored 45-day program to regain strength, as well as addressing various potential health issues stemming from their prolonged stay in space, including eyesight impairment and blood clots.
NASA astronauts who return from long ISS missions complete a 45 day rehabilitation program that requires them to exercise for two hours per day, seven days per week.
Their long road to recovery begins now, with their rehab split into three phases.
Living in the harsh environment on the International Space Station (ISS) may have also increased their risk of eyesight impairment, skin issues and blood clots, according to British astronaut Tim Peake.
Dr Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist and Air Force veteran, said the astronauts are likely to need up to six weeks of rehab to get back into basic shape after living in low gravity for so long.
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