We've just published a paper showing the fatigue loading of tendon fascicles not only causes their specialised spring-like features to breakdown, but that this relates to how well the fascicle is able to recoil after loading. Good recoil is important for healthy tendon function, and we have shown that ability to recoil gets worse with ageing. These findings may help to explain the mechanisms leading to tendon injury (April 2014).

C.T. Thorpe, G.P. Riley, H.L.Birch, P.D.Clegg, H.R.C.Screen (2014) Effect of fatigue loading on structure and functional behaviour of fascicles from energy-storing tendons. Acta Biomater. 2014 Apr 16. pii: S1742-7061(14)00165-2. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2014.04.008.