Ligaments and Tendons
Ligaments zAugment the mechanical stability of joints zGuide joint motion zPrevent excessive motion
Tendons zAttach muscle to bone zTransmit tensile loads from muscle to bone
Composition z Dense connective tissue (parallel-fibers of collagen) - Sparsely vascularized z Cellular (fibroblasts) – 20 % z Extracellular (80%) - 70% H 2 O - 30% solids –collagen, ground substance, elastin
Composition z Collagen - ligaments - 75% of solids - tendons – 75%+ of solids
Ligament/Tendon Schematic
Ligament versus Tendon
Tendon - Structure and Function z sustain high tensile forces z flexible
Ligament - Structure and Function z pliant and flexible z strong and inextensible/inelastic
Injury is affected by: z Rate of impact z Amount of load
Tendon Deformation Load
ACL Injury
Joint Displacement Load Complete Failure Clinical Test Microfailure Physiological Loading Injury
Ligamentum Flavum Deformation Load
Factors affecting Mechanical Properties zMaturation - 20 # & quality of cross-links tensile strength and collagen fiber diameter (hypertrophy)
Factors affecting Mechanical Properties zAging – collagen content stiffness, strength & ability to withstand deformation zPregnancy and postpartum – tensile strength & stiffness in tendons
Factors affecting Mechanical Properties zPhysical Training - tendon tensile strength and ligament- bone interface strength - ligaments become stronger and stiffer, collagen fibers increase in diameter
Factors affecting Mechanical Properties zImmobilization - tensile strength of ligaments, more elongation, less stiff - in cross-links -After 8 weeks of immobilization 12 months to recover strength & stiffness
Effects of Immobilization
WeeksMonths Time 0 Structural/mechanical properties (Experimental/Control x 100) Control Exercise Immobility Recovery (ligament substance) Recovery (insertion site)
Factors affecting Mechanical Properties zNSAIDS - tensile strength possibly due to cross-linkage zLocal Cortisone - alters collagen organization in tendon - random versus parallel