A Wolff in sheep's clothing: Trabecular bone adaptation in response to changes in joint loading orientation

► We tested Wolff's law of trabecular bone adaptation in sheep carpal and tarsal joints. ► Sheep running inclined had a more extended tarsal joint angle compared to sheep running level. ► Inclined group tarsal joint trabecular orientation responded to the change in joint loading direction and became more obtuse. ► Trabecular orientation difference between the 2 groups corresponded tightly to the difference in joint angle. ► The lower magnitude of loading in the sedentary group was not sufficient to initiate a significant trabecular modeling response.