A STUDENT is celebrating stratospheric success after receiving industry recognition for his work in helping combat astronauts’ back pain when they return home from space.

Zero gravity in space leads to back pain in astronauts because it eliminates the normal body weight loading of the spine, resulting in spinal discs deconditioning.

Although astronauts exercise to try to counteract these effects, they need to undergo rehabilitation for a number of months when they return to earth to rebuild their strength and re-establish spinal control.

While at the 2015 UK Space Conference, PhD student and trained physiotherapist Andrew Winnard was awarded the prestigious Evetts Award for Outstanding Contribution to UK Space Life and Biomedical Sciences for his research and contributions to the industry.

Andrew is currently working at Northumbria University with senior lecturer Dr Dorothee Debuse on the Functional Re-adaptive Exercise Device, known as FRED, which has been created to combat the back problems astronauts suffer when they return to earth.

He caught the judges’ attention with his work on the device which could be used by astronauts’ undergoing rehabilitation as well as by those suffering with severe lower back pain and muscle wastage issues.

Andrew, studied Biomedical Science and Physiotherapy before embarking on his PhD.

He said: “It’s an honour to pick up this award for something I feel so passionately about and in such a competitive, innovative and exciting industry.”