Vv of collagen fibers in femoral articular cartilage in the four study groups of rats (C, I, E, and EI). *Significance vs. groups C, E, and EI (P < 0.05) and **significance vs. groups C and EI (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between groups C and EI (P > 0.05), suggesting that exercise did affect collagen Vv in articular cartilage by immobilization (groups I and E). Five rats per group and nine sections per animal.