<p>The phenomena occurring in response to decreased levels of support afferentation – a reflex decrease in muscle tone, structural changes in the muscle periphery, and impaired coordination of movements – are seen not only in conditions of weightlessness, but also in ground-based models of its physiological effects, in immobilized patients, and in the elderly. The appearance of the concept that support afferentation has a trigger role in the operation of the postural-tonic muscular system served as impetus for development of the support stimulation method as a countermeasure to the adverse consequences of motor unloading. This review addresses results obtained by applying mechanical stimulation to the support zones of the soles to mitigate the negative consequences of support and motor unloading in the practice of space and terrestrial medicine.</p>