Living tissues and organs dynamically change their mechanical properties and structure in response to stress due to functional adaptation and otpimal operation. Although this phenomenon is also observed in knee joint tendons and ligaments, relatively little is known about the mechanism of stress effects. We have been studying the effects of stress shielding, restressing after stress shielding, and overstressing on the biomechanical properties of tendons and ligaments. The mechanisms of the remodelign cannot be elucidated well by in vivo experimental models. To investigate the mechanisms of remodeling in detail, in vitro tissue culture studies are useful. In the present study, we designed an apparatus for applying various mechanical stresses to cultured tissues, and used it to study the effects of static and cyclic tensile load on the mechanical properties of collagen fascicles obtained from rabbit patellar tendons.
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