Astronaut adherence to exercise-based reconditioning: Psychological considerations and future directions.

INTRODUCTION: Exercise-based reconditioning is essential for mitigating the negative physiological and functional effects of spaceflight. Astronaut adherence to prescribed reconditioning programmes is imperative, but there has been limited research in this area.

PURPOSE: This commentary discusses adherence predictors in analogous terrestrial populations (sport, clinical rehabilitation, general exercise) that may translate to spaceflight environments.

IMPLICATIONS: Reconditioning programmes should foster intrinsic motivation, realistic outcome expectancies, self-regulation skills, and strong therapeutic alliances to promote ongoing exercise adherence. Research is needed to understand spaceflight-specific barriers and facilitators to adherence, and to develop appropriate strategies to promote ongoing exercise behaviours.