"Sleeping for one year straight gets you all out of form, so this will be great!"

[nickzambuto]

^ Nappa said that line right before he and Vegeta landed on Arlia. Now, I'm sure that this fact never even crossed Toriyama's mind, but it got me thinking, sleeping for one year straight would indeed reek havoc on a normal human's body. People who wake up from comas can barely move and require months of intense physical therapy before regaining control of their muscles, if they ever do at all. Nappa's comment seems to reflect this.

So again, I know there is no in-universe explanation for this because Toriyama never considered it, but let's just theorize here. Why are the saiyans able to sleep for such long periods of time with little to no repercussions on their body? Do their muscles work differently from humans? Is it because of ki? Do the space pods have some kind of high tech mechanisms that keep their muscles stimulated?

[DanielSSJ]

I'm willing to bet that the Attack Balls that they ride around in don't just put them into a coma for long distance journeys. Rather that they actually put them in suspended animation, actually freezing them or otherwise pausing most or all biological processes for the duration for their trip. While there might be some disorientation immediately after waking up, the actual muscular atrophy would be minimal at worst. It wouldn't make sense for Freeza's spaceships to allow for long distance journeys, but effectively cripple the rider for whatever mission they plan to take, after all.

[nickzambuto]

Do you think they age?

[Doctor.]

I'm willing to bet that the Attack Balls that they ride around in don't just put them into a coma for long distance journeys. Rather that they actually put them in suspended animation, actually freezing them or otherwise pausing most or all biological processes for the duration for their trip. While there might be some disorientation immediately after waking up, the actual muscular atrophy would be minimal at worst. It wouldn't make sense for Freeza's spaceships to allow for long distance journeys, but effectively cripple the rider for whatever mission they plan to take, after all.

How does that explain Goku being able to still sense Ki in his pod and being able to teleport?

[Gog]

I'm willing to bet that the Attack Balls that they ride around in don't just put them into a coma for long distance journeys. Rather that they actually put them in suspended animation, actually freezing them or otherwise pausing most or all biological processes for the duration for their trip. While there might be some disorientation immediately after waking up, the actual muscular atrophy would be minimal at worst. It wouldn't make sense for Freeza's spaceships to allow for long distance journeys, but effectively cripple the rider for whatever mission they plan to take, after all.

How does that explain Goku being able to still sense Ki in his pod and being able to teleport?

Well, perhaps the Ginyu Tokusentai have specially modified, superior space pods? To provide a faster more comfortable travel for Freeza's elite.

[Kamiccolo9]

While I'm no biologist, other mammals hibernate, and I don't think they suffer any severe disabilities due to it. To my knowledge, bears don't have to deal with muscular atrophy when they wake up.

[Ki Breaker]

While I'm no biologist, other mammals hibernate, and I don't think they suffer any severe disabilities due to it. To my knowledge, bears don't have to deal with muscular atrophy when they wake up.

Bears do experience loss of skeletal muscle strength as well, but compared to humans they lose half as much strength for similar periods of bed rest..

[TheZFighter]

I think it is safe to say that Saiyans not being human may provide the easiest answer.

[ekrolo2]

I'm willing to bet that the Attack Balls that they ride around in don't just put them into a coma for long distance journeys. Rather that they actually put them in suspended animation, actually freezing them or otherwise pausing most or all biological processes for the duration for their trip. While there might be some disorientation immediately after waking up, the actual muscular atrophy would be minimal at worst. It wouldn't make sense for Freeza's spaceships to allow for long distance journeys, but effectively cripple the rider for whatever mission they plan to take, after all.

How does that explain Goku being able to still sense Ki in his pod and being able to teleport?

Goku could've been awake on the final home run part to Earth. Fighters tend to wake up if they suddenly sense something so Freeza's ki could've made him wake up prematurely.

[DanielSSJ]

Goku could've been awake on the final home run part to Earth. Fighters tend to wake up if they suddenly sense something so Freeza's ki could've made him wake up prematurely.

That might not be true if the user is put into stasis, though I figure the user is probably woken up once they're within a certain range of the target planet.

[nickzambuto]

While I'm no biologist, other mammals hibernate, and I don't think they suffer any severe disabilities due to it. To my knowledge, bears don't have to deal with muscular atrophy when they wake up.

That's a good point. I wonder how that is?