Gravitational Weakness

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If you plan on spending time in a low gravity environment, you must keep your muscles and bones strong and healthy. Otherwise, your body will fail to re-adjust when returning to your natural, higher gravity, environment.

— advice given to human astronauts

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Overview

Cause

When a creature spends a prolonged amount of time in a gravitational field that is weaker than they are used to, their muscles and bones need to use less effort. Examples of this, are humans in orbit around a planet, or space explorers who use ships with no artificial gravity. The longer amount of time spent in this state, the more damage is done. Sometimes, when re-entering their natural gravitational field, a creature can find that they can no longer hold up their own weight.

prevention

The main prevention of this disease is through species-appropriate exercise while in the low gravity environment. This helps to maintain the stength of the bones and muscles so that they will withstand their usual gravity when they return to it. Some species have developed supplements and technologies that promote this retention of stength, and these have significantly lessened the number of reported cases of this condition.

Symptoms

After 1 Week

During the first week in a low-gravity environment, muscle mass begins to decrease. If the creature returns to their natural habitat within this time, there will be almost no noticeable symptoms, although some weakness is expected. The creature will make a full recovery.

After 1 Month

At this point in time, the bones begin to decay little by little. Without regular excersise, or simulated gravity, the creature will become weaker and weaker as time goes one. The creature will now struggle in its natural gravity without support.

After 1 Year

After this point, the creature will be so weak, that to return to it's origional gravity could cause it to be physically crushed under the weight. Its bones and muscles are no longer adapted to its environment, and the chance of death increase the longer it stays in low-gravity after this point.

Table of Contents

Affected Species

Gravitational Weakness can affect any species that spends a prolonged period of time in a gravitational field that is weaker than their own.

Origin

Natural

Rarity

Uncommon