Material Properties of Ligaments

Abstract

Although of primary interest to the analysis of wrist stability, prior to the late 1970’s, wrist ligaments were only described in terms of relative strength or weakness as noted clinically after trauma (Fahrer 1981; Taleisnik 1985; Taleisnik 1976). Biomechanical investigations generally examined ligament behavior indirectly as an integral part of general wrist biomechanics, such as noting the angle of wrist deflection due to specific loading or placing pressure sensitive film between carpal bones to measure contact pressure (Minami, et al., 1985; Ruby, et al., 1987; Viegas, et al., 1987a. and 1987b.).