Fig. 7. (A) Representative stress–strain curve of a single distal thread cycled to incrementally increasing strain values from 10% to 70%. Yield, as seen in cycles to 20, 30 and 40%, is followed by a loss in stiffness (stress softening) in the subsequent cycle. (B) Percentage loss in modulus plotted as a function of the strain that caused the loss. Values are means ± s.e.m.; N=10. Most stress softening is occurring between 10% and 40% strain.