Figure 3.

A proposed mechanism by which cyclical loading leads to changes in articular cartilage mechanical properties. Hydrostatic pressure of cartilage tissue is increased through compression caused by cyclical in vivo joint loading. With loading at physiological frequencies and amplitudes, changes in cellular signaling pathways lead to a detectable increase in proteoglycan synthesis. Changes in chemical composition of cartilage extracellular matrix eventually lead to changes in mechanical properties of the tissue in general.