Migration of single preadipocytes on a two-dimensional elastic polyacrylamide gel with Young's modulus of 2.44 kPa was evaluated.

Preadipocyte migration in the absence of chemoattractants or mechanical attractants is non-persistent in direction between successive steps and unaligned with the cell's major axis.

Cells apply a wide range of total traction forces (100–800 nN) during different stages of migration.

Asymmetry in localization of applied traction forces between the left and right sides of the cell, relative to its minor axis, is limited to 33%.