Effect of exercise, immobilization and intermittent stretching on strength of knee ligaments of albino rats

Abstract

Sixty male albino rats were divided into four groups. The rats in the first group were exercised; those in the second were subjected to intermittent passive stretching of one hind leg; those in the third group had one hind leg immobilized; those in the fourth group served as controls. At the end of 4 weeks, all animals were sacrificed and the muscle tissue was dissected from the hind legs. The limbs were then torn apart at the knee joint. No significant differences were found in the amount of stress required to tear the knee ligaments in the various groups. Submitted on September 29, 1959

A case-control study of anterior cruciate ligament volume, tibial plateau slopes and intercondylar notch dimensions in ACL-injured knees

“…Those with a narrower notch may also have a coronal ACL orientation that lies more vertical, which could potentially influence the loads the ACL experiences, although this has not been investigated to our knowledge. Given the evidence that ligaments and bone do respond to their loading environments it is possible that a steeper tibial slope could lead to greater ACL strain and thereby to ACL hypertrophy (Amiel et al 1982, Cowin 1983, Kazarian 1975, Maffulli, King 1992, Newton et al 1995, Noyes et al 1974, Rasch et al 1960, Tipton et al 1970, Yasuda, Hayashi 1999). Moreover, repeated impingement of the ACL against the intercondylar notch could potentially lead to notch stenosis (Everhart et al 2010, in press).…”

Cyclic loading in knee ligament injuries

“…However, a number of studies in which the primary objective was to demonstrate a cause and effect relationship between exercise and increased ligament strength allude to a fatigue phenomenon. [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Recent papers refer to fatigue of articular cartilage23 and of heart valves.24…”

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“…In the distal femoral cartilage the motion load is distributed over a greater area. It is also certain that running usually causes tension and/or friction in tendon tissues, but the mechanical strain of the collateral ligament is not so clear (21).…”

“…The exact effect of increasing tension or repetitive movements on the metabolism of glycosaminoglycan and collagen in tendon tissue and cartilage is not known. These effects of motion load have generally been studied in connection with physical training, growing or ageing, 0355-3140/79/070056-12 and the results have primarily been based on physical and morphological parameters after relatively long-term experiments (11,12,13,21,22,25). Biochemical studies have shown such changes in connective tissue matrix proteins as an accelerated turnover of collagen and other proteins in tendons and ligaments and increased concentrations of hexosamines and nitrogen in skin after training (10).…”