The Effect of Unilateral Limb Immobilization on the Tibia and Femur of Mouse

Mechanical stimuli are essential for the skeleton, and immobilization produces rapid bone loss in the weight-bearing bones (Peng et al. 1994). It is probable that a reduction of physical activity may also affect the involutional osteopenia seen in elderly people. Immobilization of a limb provides an experimental way to study mechanical influences on bone tissue without interfering with hormonal homeostasis. The present study was carried out to evaluate densitometric and mechanical changes in the tibia and femur during unilateral limb immobilization model in mouse (Jämsä et al. 1999).