01/07/2026
Wolff’s Law
Wolff’s law is one of the basic principles in orthopedics: bone adapts to the stress placed on it.
When bone is exposed to increased mechanical load, the trabeculae become stronger, thicker, and more organized along the lines of force. When bone is not loaded, as in immobilization or disuse, the bone becomes weaker and more porous.
This is why weight-bearing activity helps maintain bone strength, and why prolonged inactivity can lead to bone loss.
The picture shows the concept clearly: less stress leads to weaker bone architecture, while more stress stimulates stronger bone architecture.
Do not confuse Wolff’s law with the Hueter-Volkmann principle. Wolff’s law is about bone remodeling in response to stress. Hueter-Volkmann is about the growth plate, where increased compression can slow growth and decreased compression can allow more growth.
Bone is alive, and it responds to the mechanical environment around it.