Experimental evaluation of rigor mortis: IX. The influence of the breaking (mechanical solution) on the development of rigor mortis

Objective measurements were carried out to study the possible re-establishment of rigor mortis on rats after “breaking” (mechanical solution).Our experiments showed that:•Cadaveric rigidity can re-establish after breaking.•A significant rigidity can reappear if the breaking occurs before the process is complete.•Rigidity will be considerably weaker after the breaking.•The time course of the intensity does not change in comparison to the controls:-the re-establishment begins immediately after the breaking;-maximal values are reached at the same time as in the controls;-the course of the resolution is the same as in the controls.