Fatigue loading of tendon results in collagen kinking and denaturation but does not change local tissue mechanics.

ABSTRACT: Fatigue loading is a primary cause of tendon degeneration, which is characterized by the disruption of collagen fibers and the appearance of abnormal (e.g., cartilaginous, fatty, calcified) tissue deposits. The formation of such abnormal deposits, which further weakens the tissue, suggests that resident tendon cells acquire an aberrant phenotype in response to fatigue damage and the resulting altered mechanical microenvironment. While fatigue loading produces clear changes in collagen organization and molecular denaturation, no data exist regarding the effect of fatigue on the local tissue mechanical properties. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify changes in the local tissue stiffness of tendons after fatigue loading. We hypothesized that fatigue damage would reduce loca

SUBMITTER: Szczesny SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6590695 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature