title: The state of tissue hydration determines the strain-rate-sensitive stiffness of human patellar tendon.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Haut
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Haut
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D004548:Elasticity; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D007038:Hypotonic Solutions; D008875:Middle Aged; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D007038:Hypotonic Solutions; D012965:Sodium Chloride