Abstract
Understanding the effect of ageing on tendon-structure function relationships is crucial for the development of effective preventative measures and treatments for age-related tendon injury. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that the fatigue resistance of the interfascicular matrix decreases with ageing in energy storing tendons. This is likely to contribute to the increased risk of injury in aged tendons. Full understanding of the mechanisms that result in this reduced fatigue resistance will aid in the development of treatments and interventions to prevent age-related tendinopathy.
Highlights
Tendons attach muscle to bone and transfer force generated by muscle contraction to the skeleton, facilitating movement
Fascicle fatigue resistance was significantly greater in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) than in the common digital extensor tendon (CDET), both in young and old fascicles (p 0.003)
Maximum and minimum creep curve gradients were significantly greater in the CDET than in the SDFT in both age groups (Fig. 3)
Summary
Tendons attach muscle to bone and transfer force generated by muscle contraction to the skeleton, facilitating movement. Tendons can broadly be divided into two categories depending on their function, those that act purely to position the limb and those that act as elastic springs during exercise, storing energy and reducing the energetic cost of locomotion [2,3].
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