Mechanics
Tendons are viscoelastic structures and are more stretchable than ligaments. When stretched, tendons have a soft tissue mechanical behavior. Several studies have demonstrated that tendons respond to changes in mechanical loading with growth and remodeling processes, much like bones. In particular, a study showed that disuse of the Achilles tendon in rats resulted in a decrease in the average thickness of the collagen fiber bundles comprising the tendon. In humans, an experiment in which people were subjected to a simulated microgravity environment found that tendon stiffness decreased significantly, even when subjects were required to perform resistive exercises. These effects have implications in areas ranging from treatment of bedridden patients to the design of more effective exercises for astronauts.
Read more about this topic: Tendon
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