Connective Tissue Responses to Stress

Creep in Connective Tissue

• Permanent deformation of connective tissue occurs when a stress is applied for an extended period, resulting in elongation.
• Creep is related to the viscosity of the tissue and is therefore time-dependent.
• The amount of deformation depends on the amount of stress and the rate at which the stress is applied.

Factors Affecting Creep

• Low-magnitude loads, within the elastic range, and applied for long periods increase deformation of connective tissue.
• This leads to gradual rearrangement of collagen fiber bonds (remodeling) and redistribution of water to surrounding tissues.

Temperature and Creep

• Increasing the temperature of the affected part increases creep and therefore the distensibility of the tissue.
• Physical therapists use heating methods, such as moist heat (towels) or infra-red radiation, before stretching to take advantage of this phenomenon.