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Failure of Synovial Fluid to Cushion

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Abstract

SYNOVIAL fluid is highly viscous and it has been thought this property aids in the protection of articular cartilage from compressive forces1–3. If synovial fluid does function as a cushion, it would probably be most effective at times of rapidly applied load that occur, for example, during running, jumping or kicking. To test this hypothesis in vitro we constructed an “impacting sleeve” (Fig. 1) which permitted the reproducible dropping of weights. The force transmitted through the specimens was registered by a force transducer, displayed on an oscilloscope, and photographed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopedic Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

    E. L. RADIN

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts

    I. L. PAUL

Authors
  1. E. L. RADIN
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  2. I. L. PAUL
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RADIN, E., PAUL, I. Failure of Synovial Fluid to Cushion. Nature 222, 999–1000 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/222999a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/222999a0

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