Low-load behaviour of the patellar tendon graft and its relevance to the biomechanics of the reconstructed knee

The results suggest that the low-load region properties of the patellar tendon, not the linear elastic properties, govern the biomechanics of the tibiofemoral joint during the early healing period. Also, a wide variability of graft properties in the low-load region exists partly due to certain donor factors. Clinicians should be aware of the low-load region behaviour of the graft and its influence on time = 0 behaviour of the reconstructed knee.