Do we know more about the mechanobiology of the intervertebral disc in space than on Earth?

This work provides a perspective on the loading protocols used in whole-organ interverterbal disc culture studies using bioreactors. We put this in the context of in vivo spinal loading, and we put forward the case that the majority of previous bioreactor studies have more in common with spinal loading in space than on Earth. Finally, we provide an outlook for the future of bioreactor research, to provide data more relevant to spinal loading on Earth, and maximize the translational potential of findings to the clinical setting.