Fig. 3: DI induces acute cardiovascular and sensorimotor deconditioning.

a Lower Body Negative Pressure test (LBNP). Table and Kaplan-Meier survival graph show the number of test finishers at each LBNP step before (B3; white circles) and after DI (R0; filled circles). Individual orthostatic tolerance (OT) index was calculated as the sum of the product of duration (min completed for each LBNP step) and negative pressure (mmHg) at each completely or partially accomplished LBNP step (n = 17). b Cardiorespiratory fitness assessed by the maximal volume of oxygen uptake per minute (V̇O_2max), maximal load developed, first-step, and maximal heart rate before (B2) and after DI (R0). The respiratory exchange ratio (RER) is calculated as the V̇CO₂ production divided by the V̇O₂ consumption (n = 18). c Core body temperature recorded during the aerobic fitness test, and the Start temperature compared to the End one (n = 6). d Static posturographic parameters (center of pressure velocity, path length, and standard ellipse area) with head fixed + eyes open, head fixed + eyes closed, and with dynamic head movements + eyes closed. CoP center of pressure, EC eyes closed (n = 18). Box plots indicate minimum, 25th percentile, median, 75th percentile, and maximum values. Bars represent mean ± s.e.m. a, b Two-tailed paired Student t test. c Two-way RM ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni multiple comparisons; with immersion effect P = 0.215 and test effect P < 0.001. d One-way RM ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni multiple comparisons compared with B3. Global ANOVA results: CoP velocity eyes open P = 0.021 and eyes closed P < 0.001 and with head movements P < 0.01, CoP path length eyes open P = 0.021 and eyes closed P < 0.001 and with head movements P < 0.001, CoP SEA eyes open P = 0.271 and eyes closed P < 0.001 and with head movements P = 0.008. CoP center of pressure, RER respiratory exchange ratio, SEA standard ellipse area.