How Space Effects Your Bones

     People lose bone mass at a normal rate for men of 1% to 2% per year, and women at 3% to 5%.  The International Space Station (ISS) crew lost 2.2% to 2.7% bone mass for every month they spent in space.  The loss of bone mass can cause fractures and other serious musculoskeletal problems.     

     The weightlessness, lack of gravity, causes this bone mass loss.  The National Osteoporosis Foundation says that at least 25 million people have bone loss and it costs them $18 billion dollars to national health programs. 

     Researchers have found a drug, zoledronate of the bisphosphonate class of medication, which decreases the amount of bone loss.  Another possible solution is a bathroom-like scale that shakes 30 cycles per second that would trick the skeleton to think it was under earth's gravity.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

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