title: The effect of impact loading on rabbit knee joints.
abstract: Eighteen mature male Whiteland rabbits received repetitive impulse loads slightly larger than body weight (4 kp) through one knee joint for periods from 1 to 6 weeks. Mechanical compression of subchondral bone cores from impacted tibiae showed progressive increased deformation under a constant force. Cartilage degeneration occurred concurrently with alterations in the mechanical properties of the subchondral bone. The cartilage degeneration may be explained by: (i) the deleterious effect of repetitive mechanical compression, (ii) the decreased mechanical support of the underlying subchondral bone.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology; D005269:Femur / Q000473:pathology; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D013977:Tibia / Q000473:pathology; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors