DEFINING THE EFFECTS OF LOAD AND SLIDING SPEED ON THE ABILITY OF CARTILAGE TO SUPPORT LOAD

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Purpose: A key feature of osteoarthritis (OA) is the breakdown of articular cartilage. The function of cartilage depends on its ability to support high loads via pressurization of its interstitial fluid—known as “fluid load support” (FLS). FLS depends on the balance of fluid exudation, which occurs during static loading, and fluid rehydration, which occurs during dynamic loading (e.g., walking). Importantly, when exudation and rehydration are perfectly balanced, cartilage achieves dynamic equilibrium deformation (DED).