Summary
Immobilization in plaster, bed rest, and the weightless state all result in calcium loss which if continued for a few months will result in detectable demineralization of the lower extremities. The upper extremities are “different” bones (presumably differently programed genetically), for they have not been seen to develop X-ray-detectable demineralization except after several months of severe paralysis. The substantial losses of calcium in inactivity are accompanied by sizeable losses of nitrogren, reflective of muscle atrophy. Hence, we do not know how much of the bone loss in disuse is mediated by diminished direct physical forces on bone, how much by decreased muscle pull on periosteum, and how much perhaps by circulatory or other changes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Deitrick JE, Whedon GD, Shorr E (1948) Effects of immobilization upon various metabolic and physiologic functions of normal men. Am J Med 4:3–36
Donaldson CL, Hulley SB, Vogel JM, Hattner RS, Boyers JH, MacMillan DE (1970) Effect of prolonged bed rest on bone mineral. Metabolism 19:1071–1084
Lutwak L, Whedon GD, Lachance PA, Reid JM, Lipscomb HS (1969) Mineral, electrolyte and nitrogen balance studies of the Gemini-VII fourteen-day orbital space fight. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 29:1140–1156
Biryukov YN, Krasnykh IG (1970) Changes in optical density of bone tissue and calcium metabolism in the cosmonauts AG Nikolayev and VI Sevastyanov. Kosmicheskaya Biologiya i Meditsina 4:42
Whedon GD, Lutwak L, Reid J, Rambaut P, Whittle M, Smith M, Leach C (1974) Mineral and nitrogen metabolic studies on Skylab orbital space flights. Trans Assoc Am Physicians 87:95–110
Whedon GD, Lutwak L, Rambaut PC, Whittle MW, Smith MC, Reid J, Leach C, Stadler CR, Sanford DD (1974) Mineral and nitrogen metabolic studies, Experiment M-071. Proceedings of the Skylab Life Sciences Symposium, held at L. B. Johnson Space Center, NASA, August 27–29, NASA TM X-58154, 1, 353–371, November
Whedon GD, Lutwak L, Rambaut P, Whittle M, Leach C, Reid J, Smith M (1976) Effect of weightlessness on mineral metabolism; metabolic studies on Skylab orbital space flights. Proceedings of the Eur. Symposium on Calcified Tissues, Elsinore, Denmark, May 25–29, 1975. Calcif Tissue Res (Suppl) 21:423–430
Whedon GD (1978) Metabolic and endocrine hormone studies in manned space flights. In MacIntyre and Szelke (eds), Molecular endocrinology Elsevier/North Holland Biomedical Press, pp 229–250
Vogel JM (1975) Acta Astronautica 2:129–140
Yogodovsky VS, et al (1976) Aviat Space Environ Med 47:734–738
Morey ER, Baylink DJ (1978) Inhibition of bone formation during space flight. Science 201:1138–1141
Wronski TJ, Morey ER (1983) Effect of spaceflight on periosteal bone formation in rats. Am J Physiol: Regul Integ and Compar Physiol 244/13:305–309; Jee WSS, Wronski TJ, Morey ER, Kimmel DB (1983) Effects of spaceflight on trabecular bone in rats. Am J Physiol: Regul Integ and Compar Physiol 244/13:310–314; Wronski TJ, Morey ER (1983) Studies in preparation for publication
Simmons DJ, Russell JE, Winter F, Baron R, Vignery A, Tran VT, Rosenberg GD, Walker W (1980) Bone growth in the mandible during space flight. Physiologist 23:S-87–S-90
Roberts WE, Mozsary PG, Morey ER (1981) Suppression of osteoblast differentiation during weightlessness. Physiologist 24:S-75–S-76
Whedon GD, Shorr E (1957) Metabolic studies in paralytic anterior poliomyelitis II. Alterations in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. J Clin Invest 36:966–981
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Donald Whedon, G. Disuse osteoporosis: Physiological aspects. Calcif Tissue Int 36 (Suppl 1), S146–S150 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02406148
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02406148