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Abstract
The primary mechanical function of bones is to provide rigid levers for muscles to
pull against, and to remain as light as possible to allow efficient locomotion. To
accomplish this bones must adapt their shape and architecture to make efficient use
of material. Bone adaptation during skeletal growth and development continuously adjusts
skeletal mass and architecture to changing mechanical environments. There are three
fundamental rules that govern bone adaptation: (1) It is driven by dynamic, rather
than static, loading. (2) Only a short duration of mechanical loading is necessary
to initiate an adaptive response. (3) Bone cells accommodate to a customary mechanical
loading environment, making them less responsive to routine loading signals. From
these rules, several mathematical equations can be derived that provide simple parametric
models for bone adaptation.