# IMMOBILIZATION AND MOTION AFFECTS ON INJURED TENDONS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 1987 · $109,943

## Abstract

Tendon injuries constitute an increasing proportion of trauma cases
reported at our hospital, yet research in the molecular biology of tendon
healing has been neglected.  The major responses of cells in an injured
tendon is to produce new collagen and noncollagen proteins.  Collagen is
the key structural protein that persists, giving tendon its ability to
resist tensile forces.  The collagen crosslink content and location largely
determine the magnitude of the resistance to tensile force.  It is known
that immobilization of an injured limb leads to joint stiffness and
intractable adhesions in ligaments and tendons that impair mobility.  An
increase in metastable, reducible collagen crosslinks accompanies loss of
mobility.  Mild exercise of an injured tendon as early as possible after
surgical repair is favorable to healing because certain metastable,
reducible, and stable pyridinoline crosslinks may not form to limit
motion.  How do tendon cells react to and regulate the collagen response to
wounding, and how does immobilization or motion alter these responses?  The
overall objectives of this study are to identify changes in the structure
of collagen in tendons that are healing and have been subjected to
immobilization or motion.  Based on results of animal experimentation, we
hope to apply a strategy to human medicine involving physical and chemical
intervention to improve tendon healing.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3155931
- **Project number:** 5R01AR030952-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **SAM.gov UEI:** D3LHU66KBLD5
- **Principal Investigator:** ALBERT J BANES
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $109,943
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-04-01 → 1988-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3155931

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3155931, IMMOBILIZATION AND MOTION AFFECTS ON INJURED TENDONS (5R01AR030952-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3155931. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*