# Effects of maternal exercise on fetal akinesia-impaired bone and joint development

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2024 · $523,064

## Abstract

Abstract
 Mechanical forces exerted by fetal movement during development influence skeletal morphogenesis. Thus,
fetal akinesia (insufficient movement), caused by low amniotic fluid volume, breech position or impaired muscle
development, can cause skeletal disorders such as hip dysplasia, arthrogryposis, and impaired bone
development. We found that maternal exercise (via wheel-running) rescued both bone and joint development
in “muscle-less limb” (Spd) mice and that bioreactor-based mechanical loading of explanted Spd limbs rescued
key aspects of limb development, directly implicating mechanical cues. To enable development of maternal
exercise-based interventions for fetal akinesia, we need to know how maternal exercise rescues akinesia-
impaired bone and joint development. Therefore, the goals of this application are to determine the cells that
respond to maternal exercise to rescue akinesia-impaired development and to define the underlying signaling
mechanisms. This will provide new insights into fetal akinesia and potentially identify maternal exercise as a
therapeutic intervention.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10978971
- **Project number:** 1R01HD113596-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Joel D Boerckel
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $523,064
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-12 → 2029-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10978971

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10978971, Effects of maternal exercise on fetal akinesia-impaired bone and joint development (1R01HD113596-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10978971. Licensed CC0.

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