Tl. Haut et Rc. Haut, THE STATE OF TISSUE HYDRATION DETERMINES THE STRAIN-RATE-SENSITIVE STIFFNESS OF HUMAN PATELLAR TENDON, Journal of biomechanics, 30(1), 1997, pp. 79-81
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of tissue hydr
ation on the structural properties of human patellar tendon. Specimens
were subjected to a load relaxation experiment prior to being stretch
ed to failure. The experiments indicated that tendons relaxed faster i
n hypotonic solutions when compared to hypertonic solutions. At a stra
in rate of 50% s(-1) the structural stiffness was significantly higher
while immersed in a hypotonic versus hypertonic solution. No differen
ce in tensile stiffness was documented between baths for 0.5% s(-1). T
endons immersed in the hypotonic solution were significantly stiffer f
or 50% s(-1) against 0.5% s(-1). The results indicate that the structu
ral properties of human patellar tendon are more sensitive to time whe
n the tissues are fully hydrated. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science
Ltd.