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examined 10 astronauts who were prescribed 70 mg of alendronate weekly, commencing 3 wk prior to a 5.5-mo ISS expedition and continuing throughout. 25 Astronauts were required to undertake the normal 2.5-h daily exercise regime during the study. BMD at the femoral neck, trochanter, total hip, pelvis, and lumbar spine was assessed pre- and postflight using dual-energy X-ray absorption (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Markers of bone turnover, including urinary and serum calcium, NTX, CTX, Vitamin D, and PTH, were recorded at specified intervals pre

90-s rests. Pre- and postintervention, subjects underwent strength tests (knee and ankle extensors of both legs), DXA scans (hip, knee, and ankles of both legs), and blood draws. In addition to left leg knee- and ankle-extensor strength gains, calcanei for that same leg saw a significant 33% BMD gain that was accompanied by a significant drop in bone resorption. 14 It was concluded that specific mechanical-loading stimuli must be applied to achieve osteogenesis, and that IET workouts imparted high strain magnitudes, rates, and frequencies. 14   Table I