Become one with the force: optimising mechanotherapy through an understanding of mechanobiology

The musculoskeletal system generates, absorbs and transmits force, enabling functional movement.Given this mechanical role, it follows that musculoskeletal tissues adapt to mechanical demands.Mechanical forces direct musculoskeletal cellular activities, altering tissue mass, structure and/or quality (figure 1). 1 The net result is altered tissue-level stresses and strains to applied loads and, subsequently, altered injury risk.