Microgravità e disco intervertebrale: l'impatto delle condizioni ambientali della microgravità sulla biomeccanica della colonna vertebrale.

Special environmental conditions such as microgravity, to which astronauts and highperformance military pilots are subjected, provide a unique example for understanding and studying specific biomechanical events that regulate the functioning of the human body. Among the potential risks of flight in both aviation and space, low back pain has a high incidence among astronauts and military pilots. Low back pain is often associated with degeneration of the intervertebral disc, resulting in the loss of structural and functional integrity and the creation of a proinflammatory environment. These causes contribute to the onset of pain symptoms. In the present work, the mechanisms of disc degeneration, microgravity conditions, and their association will be analysed in order to identify possible molecular mechanisms underlying disc degeneration and its clinical manifestations. The aim is to develop a prevention model and enhance the performance of pilots involved in both atmospheric and space flight. The focus on microgravity also makes it possible to develop new proof of concept with potential therapeutic implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]