Fig. 5.

Effect of elastin depletion on IFM loading response and recovery. Loading and recovery were visually monitored by tracking markers across the IFM samples. Angle deviation (degrees) of lines was first determined under the application of 75% of the predicted failure extension (a). Load was removed, and then recovery of lines relative to their start point was measured immediately after loading (b) and 10 s after the removal of load (c). Graphs compare young and old SDFT IFM samples in the fresh, control and elastase treated groups (n = 5/age group; total samples tested: 2/treatment/tendon). Significant differences are flagged with: *p<0.05 and **p<0.01 (data non-normally distributed – Mann-Whitney test). For more details regarding loading protocol refer to Fig. 1.