Tibial Bone Strain in Ambulating Mice Subjected to Partial Weight Bearing

+Christiansen, B A; Roberts, B J; Cloutier, A M; Manoharan, R K; Shah, S R; Bouxsein, M L; +Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA [email protected] INTRODUCTION: Mechanical loading is necessary for proper development and maintenance of the musculoskeletal system. There is a great deal of research in small animal models investigating the musculoskeletal response to increased mechanical loading, as well as total unloading (e.g. tail suspension). However, there has been little investigation into the physiological effects of partial weight bearing (PWB) environments, which may serve as models for clinically relevant conditions such as space flight, bed rest, immobilization, stroke, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, or reductions in physical activity.