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The state of tissue hydration determines the strain-rate-sensitive stiffness of human patellar tendon
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of tissue hydration on the structural properties of human patellar tendon. Specimens were subjected to a load relaxation experiment prior to being stretched to failure. The experiments indicated that tendons relaxed faster in hypotonic solutions when compared to hypertonic solutions. At a strain rate of 50% s-1 the structural stiffness was significantly higher while immersed in a hypotonic versus hypertonic solution. No difference in tensile stiffness was documented between baths for 0.5% s-1. Tendons immersed in the hypotonic solution were significantly stiffer for 50% s-1 against 0.5% s-1. The results indicate that the structural properties of human patellar tendon are more sensitive to time when the tissues are fully hydrated.