ISSN:
1434-3916
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The effects of stress deprivation on the mechanical properties of the patellar tendon (PT) were studied using 14 albino rats. The PT was stress-shielded with cerclages on one side, while the contralateral patellar tendon served as a sham-operated control. After 10 weeks, paired load-strain as well as load-relaxation experiments were performed (11 and 3 specimen pairs, respectively). Mechanical tests showed, irrespective of the cerclage material used, that strain was increased significantly after stress-shielding (P 〈 0.02). The time constant significantly decreased in the stress-shielded specimens under ¶5 N loads, which may be considered ‘physiological’. Tissue remodeling might explain the observed changes in the viscoelastic behaviour of the stress-shielded tendons. Loading, even in the physiological range of normal daily activity, may lead to an elongation of previously stress-shielded tendons or ligaments and consequently alter the behaviour of a joint.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004020050014
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