Tendon physiology and biomechanics

创新******该研究项目将产生肌腱细胞行为的机制见解，并将这些基础知识应用于改进运动计划的开发，以满足人类保持身体活动的基本需求。本研究将通过研究机械刺激下肌腱细胞的生物学反应来促进我们对人类肌腱的理解。******概述******连接肌肉和骨骼的肌腱是由专门的成纤维细胞组成的致密胶原组织。这些成纤维细胞周期性地受到拉伸应变，这对于维持组织稳态和在增加负荷期间触发适应性组织反应是重要的。长期目标是开发新的锻炼项目，刺激健康成人肌腱的适应性。******背景******运动项目的发展，可以提高肌肉和骨骼的力量，提高了我们社会的能力，成功地老化。然而，运动科学家和体育运动的支持者往往忽视了肌腱。最近的一系列研究表明，如果给予足够的训练刺激，肌腱可以变得更强壮，并提高其能量储存能力。肌腱增强的机制尚不完全清楚，但被认为与局部肌腱成纤维细胞（肌腱细胞）产生新的胶原纤维有关。肌腱的适应能力是研究的重要内容，因为肌腱在许多功能活动中起着至关重要的作用。******科学方法摘要******实验工作将在髋关节健康和活动中心进行，该中心是一个跨学科研究实验室，由CFI和BC省知识发展基金会资助，申请人是该基金会的PI。肌腱力学生物学将在体外和体内使用实验室中的几台机器进行检查，包括具有生物人工肌腱功能的FlexCell单元，具有相关器官培养室的Bose Electroforce单元，用于人体运动研究的Biodex单元（与肌电图，实时超声和运动捕捉系统相结合），还有一个运动功能实验室，配备仪器跑步机，用于计算人体运动时肌腱能量的储存和释放。

Innovation******This research program will generate mechanistic insights into tendon cell behaviour, and will apply this fundamental knowledge to the development of improved exercise programs that address the basic human need to remain physically active. The proposed research will advance our understanding of human tendons by studying the biological responses of mechanically stimulated tendon cells.******Overview ******Tendons, which connect muscles and bones, are a dense collagenous tissue populated by specialized fibroblasts. These fibroblasts are periodically subjected to tensile strains, which are important in maintaining tissue homeostasis and triggering adaptive tissue responses during periods of increased loading. The longterm objective is to develop new exercise programs, which stimulate adaptation in healthy adult tendons.******Background******The development of exercise programs that can improve the strength of muscles and bones has improved our society's ability to age successfully. Exercise scientists and physical activity proponents, however, often overlook tendons. A recent series of studies has revealed that if given a sufficient training stimulus, tendons can become stronger and improve their energy storage capacity. The mechanisms underlying tendon strengthening are not fully understood, but are thought to involve the production of new collagen fibres by local tendon fibroblasts (tenocytes). The adaptive capacity of tendons is important to study, because tendons play a vital role in many functional activities.******Summary of the Scientific Approach ******The experimental work will be conducted in the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, an interdisciplinary research laboratory equipped through grants from CFI and the BC Knowledge Development Foundation, on which the applicant was a PI. Tendon mechanobiology will be examined in vitro and in vivo using several machines in the laboratory including a FlexCell unit with bioartificial tendon capability, a Bose Electroforce unit with associated organ culture chambers, a Biodex unit for human exercise studies (in conjunction with electromyography, real-time ultrasound and motion capture system), and a motion function laboratory equipped with an instrumented treadmill for calculation of tendon energy storage and release during human movement.