Mechanical testing for bone specimens

Biomechanical tests are designed as an end-point measure in many experimental studies to confirm both pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical treatment effects on musculoskeletal tissues, especially on skeletons for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. This chapter introduces basic knowledge and concepts of mechanical testing methodology in studying mechanical properties of bone specimens at organ, tissue and matrix levels. The mechanical testing methods are categorized into both destructive and non-destructive or non-contact ones using both conventional and stateof- the-art testing facilities. Computational modeling method is also briefly introduced. In order to obtain the most update information of testing methods, homepages of some relevant or known research societies and devices suppliers are listed as reference sources to facilitate direct network communication. Practical tips are suggested for preparation and preservation of bone specimens. Factors affecting testing results or data interpretations are summarized to avoid inconsistent and incomparable testing results.