Muscle atrophy, osteoporosis prevention in hibernating mammals

Physical inactivity decreases the mechanical load on the skeleton, which when prolonged leads to losses of muscle strength and bone mass in humans and most mammalian species. Hibernating mammals show no loss in bone mass and less muscle atrophy than would be anticipated over such a prolonged period of physical inactivity. This suggests that diverse hibernating mammals have evolved natural mechanisms that reduce muscle atrophy and conserve bone mass.