Water movement in tendon in response to a repeated static tensile load using one-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging.

Rabbit Achilles tendons (N = 8) were subjected to tensile loading while internal water movements were followed using NMR. The distribution of the internal water in tendons was measured using a one-dimensional proton-density map that was collected along a radial line oriented transverse to the tendon's long axis. The proton density map was created from fits to T2 relaxation data. The experimental design included two cycles of loading (7.5 N tensile load) and relaxation. The first load application was for 42.67 min: unloaded for 21.33 min, reloaded for 21.33 min, and then unloaded for 21.33 min. Water was redistributed in a time-dependent fashion upon loading: proton density decreased in the core region and increased in the rim region. In addition there was evidence that tensile loading caused water to become NMR visible. In separate, parallel experiments, we studied the mechanical behavior of tendons using identical conditions of uniaxial loading (N = 7). The time constants of water movements were very different from the time constants of mechanical relaxation, indicating that water redistribution is not the sole determining factor of mechanical behavior.