The Effects of TMR® Fab 6 on Hamstring Flexibility in Healthy Subjects; An Exploratory Observational Investigation.

Background: Stretching programs are designed to improve hamstring flexibility by attempting to mechanically increase the length of the target tissue. However, other manual treatment approaches such as those utilized in Total Motion Release (TMR®), could be beneficial by identifying body asymmetries to assess and treat soft tissue impairments leading to diminished extensibility. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the TMR® Fab 6 assessment and treatment to increase hamstring flexibility in healthy participants following one session of TMR®. Study Design: Observational Cohort study. Methods: A convenience sample of 20 healthy participants (10 males, 10 females) were recruited from three institutions. Following collection of demographic information and a brief medical history, each participant performed a five minute warm-up on the stationary bike at a moderate intensity (80-90 RPMs) followed immediately by the bilateral performance of the Active Knee Extension Test (AKET) and Passive Straight Leg Raise (PSLR) to assess hamstring muscle length. Participants were randomly placed in the TMR® or control group. The TMR® group completed the "Fab 6" evaluation and treatment, while the control group performed one repetition of standing active hip flexion every 30-seconds for 15-minutes with both knees in full extension. Upon completion of treatment, control and TMR® groups were immediately re-evaluated on the AKET and the PSLR in the same order and fashion as baseline testing. Participants were asked to return in 24-hours for the same objective measurements as previously described. Results: A significant time by group interaction was identified across all variables (p ≤ 0.001) for AKET and PSLR except the PSLR preferred leg from post-treatment to 24hr follow-up. The most significant increase in the AKET occurred in the TMR® group between baseline and post-treatment of the non-preferred leg (12.15°±2.94) when compared to the control group (7.15°±1.56). Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that implementing a regionally interdependent treatment approach like TMR® results in significant improvements in hamstring extensibility and hip ROM compared to the control group. Level of evidence: 3.

Posterior thigh muscles activity during the active H-test: An electromyographic and kinematic analysis.

The Askling's H-test is considered a useful return to play criterion after a hamstring muscle injury (HMI). However, it assesses only the active and passive flexibility of posterior thigh muscles. This may lead the practitioner to underestimate a compensation or abnormal movement pattern. The aim of this study was to analyze these kinematic aspects and their reliability, and evaluate the hamstring (HM) and gluteus maximus (GM) muscles' activities. Twelve healthy male volunteers were tested during two session of three trials for passive and active tests. Dynamic flexibility (97.2 ± 6.0°) was significantly greater than the passive one (70.5 ± 14.7°) (p < 0.001), and good intra-individual reproductibility for most kinematic characteristics was observed. Biceps Femoris long head, semitendinosus and GM mean activities (20.1 ± 11.2%; 14.3 ± 7.3% and 25.2 ± 22.1%, respectively) were found to be low to moderate, indicating that only a moderate level of activity occurred during the active H-test, in comparison to other movements such as sprinting itself. In addition, the activity of the posterior thigh muscles during the active H-test appeared to be variable among the volunteers. These findings suggest that the H-test should be interpreted on an individual basis rather than relying on general characteristics, and be considered as an intermediate tool before more strenuous activities such as returning to sprint. With this comprehensive approach, clinicians can gain a more accurate understanding of their patients' progress and make more informed decisions about their readiness to return to play.

Mechanical properties of hydrated electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers.

Polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers are a promising material for biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, slow degradation rate, and thermal stability. We electrospun PCL fibers onto a striated substrate with 12 µm wide ridges and grooves and determined their mechanical properties in an aqueous solution with a combined atomic force/inverted optical microscopy technique. Fiber diameters, D, ranged from 27 to 280 nm. The hydrated PCL fibers had an extensibility (breaking strain), εmax, of 137%. The Young's modulus, E, and tensile strength, σT, showed a strong dependence on fiber diameter, D; decreasing steeply with increasing diameter, following empirical equations E(D)=(4.3∙103∙e-D51nm+1.1∙102) MPa and σT(D)=(2.6∙103∙e-D55nm+0.6∙102) MPa. Incremental stress-strain measurements were employed to investigate the viscoelastic behavior of these fibers. The fibers exhibited stress relaxation with a fast and slow relaxation time of 3.7 ± 1.2 s and 23 ± 8 s and these experiments also allowed the determination of the elastic and viscous moduli. Cyclic stress-strain curves were used to determine that the elastic limit of the fibers, εelastic, is between 19% and 36%. These curves were also used to determine that these fibers showed small energy losses (<20%) at small strains (ε < 10%), and over 50% energy loss at large strains (ε > 50%), asymptotically approaching 61%, as Eloss=61%·(1-e-0.04*ε). Our work is the first mechanical characterization of hydrated electrospun PCL nanofibers; all previous experiments were performed on dry PCL fibers, to which we will compare our data.

A review on stringiness property of cheese and the measuring technique.

This review paper provides a deep understanding of stringiness property in a cheese product. Stringiness is used to describe the extended continuous strand of a molten cheese, especially mozzarella cheese. Stringiness is often described quantitatively by stretch length, as well as qualitative definition which focuses on the dimension of strand and ease of extensibility. Very often, the scope of defining stringiness attributes is limited by the measuring techniques because a complete experimental setup is required to obtain information on both stretch quantity and stretch quality. Among the measuring methods, cheese extensibility rig stands out to be the best method to assess stringiness attribute of a cheese as it is an objective method. In addition, a detailed study on the molecular behavior and interactions among natural and imitation cheese components in delivering stringiness, and the challenges faced therein have been reviewed. Thus, the review provides a foundation for the development of vegan cheese or plant-based cheese with stringiness properties.

Alginate Conjugation Increases Toughness in Auricular Chondrocyte Seeded Collagen Hydrogels.

Current auricular cartilage replacements for pediatric microtia fail to address the need for long-term integration and neocartilage formation. While collagen hydrogels have been successful in fostering neocartilage formation, the toughness and extensibility of these materials do not match that of native tissue. This study used the N-terminal functionalization of collagen with alginate oligomers to improve toughness and extensibility through metal-ion complexation. Alginate conjugation was confirmed via FTIR spectroscopy. The retention of native collagen fibrillar structure, thermal gelation, and helical conformation in functionalized gels was confirmed via scanning electron microscopy, oscillatory shear rheology, and circular dichroism spectroscopy, respectively. Alginate-calcium complexation enabled a more than two-fold increase in modulus and work density in functionalized collagen with the addition of 50 mM CaCl2, whereas unmodified collagen decreased in both modulus and work density with increasing calcium concentration. Additionally, the extensibility of alginate-functionalized collagen was increased at 25 and 50 mM CaCl2. Following 2-week culture with auricular chondrocytes, alginate-functionalization had no effect on the cytocompatibility of collagen gels, with no effects on cell density, and increased glycosaminoglycan deposition. Custom MATLAB video analysis was then used to quantify fracture toughness, which was more than 5-fold higher following culture in functionalized collagen and almost three-fold higher in unmodified collagen.

The Comparison of the Effect of Flour Particle Size and Content of Damaged Starch on Rice and Buckwheat Slurry, Dough, and Bread Characteristics.

The effect of botanical origin, the flour particle size, and the content of damaged starch on flour pasting properties, dough behavior during a uniaxial deformation test, and bread characteristics were evaluated on rice and buckwheat flours. The rice flour with a median particle size D(0.5) of 60.2, 70.6, 106.8, and 189.4 µm, and buckwheat flour with a D(0.5) of 56.4, 68.4, and 95.8 µm were prepared using the same milling technology. The botanical origin of the flours was the strongest factor influencing the flour pasting properties, stress accumulated in dough during the uniaxial deformation test, loaf characteristics, texture, and sensory characteristics of breads. The flour particle size significantly influenced mainly the flour pasting properties. The effect of the content of damaged starch was the weakest among the studied factors. The flour particle size and the content of damaged starch were closely related. The flour botanical origin was the strongest factor; therefore, it seems not to be possible to predict the bread-baking potential of gluten-free flours based on the results obtained for flour of a different botanical origin. More research on flours from different plants prepared by the same milling process is required to support this hypothesis.

Theoretical Analyses of Turgor Pressure during Stress Relaxation and Water Uptake, and after Changes in Expansive Growth Rate When Water Uptake Is Normal and Reduced.

Turgor pressure provides the force needed to stress and deform the cell walls of plants, algae, and fungi during expansive growth. However, turgor pressure plays another subtle but equally important role in expansive growth of walled cells: it connects the two biophysical processes of water uptake and wall deformation to ensure that the volumetric rates of water uptake and enlargement of the cell wall chamber are equal. In this study, the role of turgor pressure as a 'connector' is investigated analytically by employing validated and established biophysical equations. The objective is to determine the effect of 'wall loosening' on the magnitude of turgor pressure. It is known that an increase or decrease in turgor pressure and/or wall loosening rate increases or decreases the expansive growth rate, respectively. Interestingly, it is shown that an increase in the wall loosening rate decreases the turgor pressure slightly, thus reducing the effect of wall loosening on increasing the expansive growth rate. Other analyses reveal that reducing the rate of water uptake results in a larger decrease in turgor pressure with the same increase in wall loosening rate, which further reduces the effect of wall loosening on increasing the expansive growth rate.

The RCX Extension Hub: A Resource for Implementations Extending the R Adaption of the Cytoscape Exchange Format.

Public repositories provide access to biological networks for investigations, and subsequently serve to distribute the network encoded biomedical and even clinically relevant results. However, inclusion of complementary information requires data structures and implementations customized to the integrated data for network representation, usage in supporting application, and extending analysis functionality. Partitioning of this information into individual aspects of a network facilitates compatibility and reusability of the network-based results, but also requires support and accessibility of the extensions and their implementations. The RCX extension hub offers overview and access to extensions of the Cytoscape exchange format implemented in R. The hub supports the realization of self-customized extension through guides, example implementations, and a template for the creation of R extension packages.

Instrumental procedures to assess the extensibility of pounded yam and relationship with sensory stretchability and consumer preferences.

BACKGROUND: Stretchability is the most important sensory textural attribute considered by consumers of pounded yam. It is important both for the processor during pounding and for the consumer during consumption to measure this attribute while screening large populations of yam genotypes intended for advanced breeding and eventual adoption. Texture determined by sensory evaluation and consumer perception is time consuming and expensive. It can be instrumentally mimicked by texture analyzer, thereby providing an efficient alternative screening tool. RESULTS: Two instrumental methods (uniaxial extensibility and lubricated squeezing flow) were applied to assess the extensional properties of pounded yam. In order to evaluate the accuracy, repeatability and discrimination of the methods, six yam genotypes with contrasting extensional properties, previously evaluated by 13 panellists in terms of stretchability and moldability and by 99 participants randomly selected in terms of overall liking, were used. Both methods allowed the discrimination of different genotypes as a function of extensional properties. Principal components showed that the genotypes were grouped within separate components associated with specific sensory attributes and their related instrumental texture parameters. Moreover, significant correlations were found between uniaxial extensibility textural attributes, bi-extensional viscosity and consumer overall liking. However, the sensory attributes were not significantly correlated with instrumental data and consumer overall liking. CONCLUSION: Bi-extensional viscosity and uniaxial extensibility attributes can be used to discriminate and screen yam genotypes for their stretchability characteristics. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The Immediate Effect of Kinesio Tape on Hamstring Muscle Length and Strength in Female University Students: A Pre-post Experimental Study.

Background: Kinesio tape has been proposed to improve the muscle extensibility. However, there are contradictory results in the literature. Objective: To investigate the effect of Kinesio tape on hamstring muscle lengthening and on hamstring and quadriceps muscle strengthening in university students with hamstring muscle tightness. Methods: In this pre-post experimental study, 96 female students with hamstring muscle tightness were recruited from Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and randomly assigned to Kinesio tape, sham tape, or control groups (32 in each group). The inhibition technique was used for the Kinesio tape application, with the tape being applied from the muscle insertion to the origin. Measurements were taken before and 15 min after the intervention. Outcome measurements included active knee extension test to measure the hamstring muscle length, and isometric strength measurements of hamstring and quadriceps muscles using a handheld dynamometer. Results: A significant increase in the immediate hamstring muscle length was found in both the Kinesio (P = 0.001) and sham (P = 0.004) tape groups, while no difference was noted in the control group (P = 0.066). The muscle lengthening was significantly greater in the Kinesio tape group than the sham tape (P = 0.001) and control (P = 0.001) groups. There was no difference in the pre- and post-measurements in the quadriceps and hamstring muscle strengths in all three groups. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that applying Kinesio tape has an immediate effect on hamstring muscle extensibility, but has no effect on the quadriceps and hamstring muscle strengths. ClinicalTrialsgov identifier NCT number: NCT03076840.

Comparative Analysis of Mechanical Properties and Microbiological Resistance of Polyfilament and Monofilament Suture Materials Used in the Operation "Tooth Extraction".

In surgical dentistry, suture material is the only foreign body that remains in the tissues after surgery, and it can lead to several negative reactions, for example, infection of the wound. The purpose of this study was to compare the mechanical properties and microbiological resistance of mono- and polyfilament suture materials used in tooth extraction operations. The study of elongation and knot force was carried out on an Instron 5969 Dual Column Testing System device. The capillarity of the materials was studied on a setup assembled by the authors manually by immersing the ends of the filaments in a colored manganese solution. A microbiological study was carried out on the threads taken for the experiment immediately after wound suturing, and on day 7, at which time they were removed. The comparison was made according to Rothia mucilaginosa, Streptococcus sanguinis, Staphylococcus epidermidis. Results: monofilament suture materials (Prolene and Glycolon), after calculating the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney indices, showed better performance in all experiments compared to polyfilament sutures (Vicryl and PGA). In capillarity comparison, there was a significant difference between groups (p = 0.00018). According to the sum of the results of three microbiological studies on day 7, monofilament suture materials absorbed less of the studied bacteria on their surface compared to the polyfilament ones (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Of the studied suture materials, Prolene had the best microbiological resistance and good mechanical properties.

The Modification of Cell Wall Properties Is Involved in the Growth Inhibition of Rice Coleoptiles Induced by Lead Stress.

Lead (Pb) is a widespread heavy metal pollutant that interferes with plant growth. In this study, we investigated the effects of Pb on the mechanical and chemical properties of cell walls and on the growth of coleoptiles of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings grown in the air (on moistened filter paper) and underwater (submerged condition). Coleoptile growth of air-grown seedlings was reduced by 40% by the 3 mM Pb treatment, while that of water-grown ones was reduced by 50% by the 0.5 mM Pb. Although the effective concentration of Pb for growth inhibition of air-grown coleoptiles was much higher than that of water-grown ones, Pb treatment significantly decreased the mechanical extensibility of the cell wall in air- and water-grown coleoptiles, when it inhibited their growth. Among the chemical components of coleoptile cell walls, the amounts of cell wall polysaccharides per unit fresh weight and unit length of coleoptile, which represent the thickness of the cell wall, were significantly increased in response to the Pb treatment (3 mM and 0.5 mM Pb for air- and water-grown seedlings, respectively), while the levels of cell wall-bound diferulic acids (DFAs) and ferulic acids (FAs) slightly decreased. These results indicate that Pb treatment increased the thickness of the cell wall but not the phenolic acid-mediated cross-linking structures within the cell wall in air- and water-grown coleoptiles. The Pb-induced cell wall thickening probably causes the mechanical stiffening of the cell wall and thus decreases cell wall extensibility. Such modifications of cell wall properties may be associated with the inhibition of coleoptile growth. The results of this study provide a new finding that Pb-induced cell wall remodeling contributes to the regulation of plant growth under Pb stress conditions via the modification of the mechanical property of the cell wall.

Correlation of ankle dorsiflexion range of motion with lower-limb kinetic chain function and hop test performance in healthy male recreational athletes.

Background: The study aims to identify the correlation of ankle dorsiflexion range-of-motion (ADROM) (with its related gastrocnemius and soleus extensibility) with lower-limb kinetic chain function and hop test performance in young healthy recreational athletes. Methods: Twenty-one young male healthy recreational athletes were tested for ADROM, gastrocnemius and soleus extensibility, lower-limb kinetic chain function with the closed kinetic chain lower extremity stability test (CKCLEST) and hop test performance with the single-leg hop for distance test (SHDT) and side hop test (SHT). Results: There was a positive significant (rho = 0.514, 95% CI [0.092-0.779], P < 0.01) correlation between the dominant lower-limb weight-bearing/closed-chain ADROM (that represented the soleus extensibility) and the CKCLEST. There were no significant correlations between the study performance-based tests and open-chain ADROM (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The CKCLEST is positively and significantly correlated with SHT and weight-bearing ADROM with knee flexion (and its related soleus extensibility) which suggests comparability among them. Open-chain ADROM has a negligible and non-significant correlation with the readings of this study performance-based tests suggesting that it is probably not an essential construct of their execution. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate these correlations.

Unraveling the regulating mechanisms of moisture content in the puffing of sweet potato starch gel.

Starch-based puffed crisps are a major group of popular snacks. In this work, the effects and underlying mechanisms of moisture content (MC) on the puffing of sweet potato starch gels were explored. The results showed that the gel with 12 % MC generated the highest puffing ratio (8.96), then followed by gels with 16 % MC (8.45) and 8 % MC (8.28). All starch gels presented a two-stage puffing pattern, but their evolutions with the heating temperature were highly dependent on the MC of gels. The relative puffing area percentages of gels with 8 % MC, 12 % MC and 16 % MC in the first (second) stages were 57.64 % (42.36 %), 60.66 % (39.34 %), and 18.36 % (81.64 %), respectively. The final pores in puffed products originated from the small water clusters that were regionalized in gel cells. The air cells started to expand as the gels with 8 % MC, 12 % MC and 16 % MC respectively reached the glass transition temperatures of 158.45 °C, 142.15 °C and 111.03 °C. The puffing was a joint consequence of the extensibility of cell walls and the pressure of water vapor in cells and the MC of the gels could regulate both of them. This study would facilitate the production of starch snacks with higher quality.

Relationship between failure strain, molecular weight, and chain extensibility in biodegradable polymers.

Prior to degradation, biocompatible polymers exhibit ductile behaviour and yield stress offers a suitable design approach. However, as degradation proceeds the material transitions to a brittle failure mode, suggesting a more conservative design approach is necessary. Here, we predict the evolving ductility of biodegrading polymers, concentrating on the relationship between molecular weight and failure strain, εf, in poly (lactic acid). Several datasets are chosen from literature to explore the relationship, with an overview of the experimental techniques provided. Failure criteria are proposed and examined alongside these datasets: the first assumes εf is related to the finite chain extensibility of an average chain; the second introduces an exponential empirical trend; the third proposes a modified extensibility criterion (based on the first criterion) that considers the entire molecular weight distribution; and the fourth offers an alternative to the third by considering the effect of chain scissions. Combining the failure criteria with a previously introduced time-dependent kinetic scission model provides results as a function of degradation duration. The predictions obtained can offer insight into material failure, particularly at advanced stages of degradation.

Double-spiral: a bioinspired pre-programmable compliant joint with multiple degrees of freedom.

Geometry and material are two key factors that determine the functionality of mechanical elements under a specific boundary condition. Optimum combinations of these factors fulfil desired mechanical behaviour. By exploring biological systems, we find widespread spiral-shaped mechanical elements with various combinations of geometries and material properties functioning under different boundary conditions and load cases. Although these spirals work towards a wide range of goals, some of them are used as nature's solution to compactify highly extensible prolonged structures. Characterizing the principles underlying the functionality of these structures, here we profited from the coiling-uncoiling behaviour and easy adjustability of logarithmic spirals to design a pre-programmable compliant joint. Using the finite-element method, we developed a simple model of the joint and investigated the influence of design variables on its geometry and mechanical behaviour. Our results show that the design variables give us a great possibility to tune the response of the joint and reach a high level of passive control on its behaviour. Using 3D printing and mechanical testing, we replicated the numerical simulations and illustrated the application of the joint in practice. The simplicity, pre-programmability and predictable response of our double-spiral design suggest that it provides an efficient solution for a wide range of engineering applications, such as articulated robotic systems and modular metamaterials.

Modification of Xyloglucan Metabolism during a Decrease in Cell Wall Extensibility in 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid-Treated Azuki Bean Epicotyls.

The exogenous application of ethylene or 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), the biosynthetic precursor for ethylene, to plants decreases the capacity of the cell wall to extend, thereby inhibiting stem elongation. In this study, the mechanism by which the extensibility of cell walls decreases in ACC-treated azuki bean epicotyls was studied. ACC decreased the total extensibility of cell walls, and such a decrease was due to the decrease in irreversible extensibility. ACC increased the molecular mass of xyloglucans but decreased the activity of xyloglucan-degrading enzymes. The expression of VaXTHS4, which only exhibits hydrolase activity toward xyloglucans, was downregulated by ACC treatment, whereas that of VaXTH1 or VaXTH2, which exhibits only transglucosylase activity toward xyloglucans, was not affected by ACC treatment. The suppression of xyloglucan-degrading activity by downregulating VaXTHS4 expression may be responsible for the increase in the molecular mass of xyloglucan. Our results suggest that the modification of xyloglucan metabolism is necessary to decrease cell wall extensibility, thereby inhibiting the elongation growth of epicotyls in ACC-treated azuki bean seedlings.

Foam Rolling vs. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching in the Hamstring Flexibility of Amateur Athletes: Control Trials.

BACKGROUND: the use of stretching techniques in the sports world is frequent and common thanks to their many effects. One of the main benefits of stretching is an increased range of motion (ROM). Recently, the use of a foam roller has spread in sports practice due to benefits that are similar to those of shoes observed in stretching. The objective of the following study was to compare the results of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching (PNF) with foam rolling (FR). METHODS: The design of the study was a single-blind, randomized controlled trial (clinicaltrial.gov NCT05134883), and the participants were 80 healthy young athletes. The range of motion was evaluated with a modified sit-and-reach test before, during (at 30 s), and at the end of the intervention (at 2 min). The subject's discomfort sensation was measured using the Borg scale. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen's d coefficient. Volunteers were randomized into the PNF group or FR group. RESULTS: the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001) during the intervention in favor of PNF group. The differences at the end of intervention showed that the PNF group had a greater increase in flexibility, with this difference being statically significant (p < 0.001). The sensation of perceived exertion with PNF at the end of the intervention was similarly classified as moderate for both groups. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that the use of FR is spreading in the field of sports and rehabilitation, the results of the present study suggest that the gain in flexibility in the hamstrings is greater if PNF-type stretches are used instead of FR.

Material properties of skin in the flying snake Chrysopelea ornata.

In snakes, the skin serves for protection, camouflage, visual signaling, locomotion, and its ability to stretch facilitates large prey ingestion. The flying snakes of the genus Chrysopelea are capable of jumping and gliding through the air, requiring additional functional demands: its skin must accommodate stretch in multiple directions during gliding and, perhaps more importantly, during high-speed, direct-impact landing. Is the skin of flying snakes specialized for gliding? Here, we characterized the material properties of the skin of Chrysopelea ornata and compared them with two nongliding species of colubrid snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis and Pantherophis guttatus, as well as with previously published values. The skin was examined using uniaxial tensile testing to measure stresses, and digital image correlation methods to determine strains, yielding metrics of strength, elastic modulus, strain energy, and extensibility. To test for loading orientation effects, specimens were tested from three orientations relative to the snake's long axis: lateral, circumferential, and ventral. Specimens were taken from two regions of the body, pre- and pos-tpyloric, to test for regional effects related to the ingestion of large prey. In comparison with T. sirtalis and P. guttatus, C. ornata exhibited higher post-pyloric and lower pre-pyloric extensibility in circumferential specimens. However, overall there were few differences in skin material properties of C. ornata compared to other species, both within and across studies, suggesting that the skin of flying snakes is not specialized for gliding locomotion. Surprisingly, circumferential specimens demonstrated lower strength and extensibility in pre-pyloric skin, suggesting less regional specialization related to large prey.

Change of mechanical characteristics in spider silk capture threads after contact with prey.

Most spiders rely on specialized capture threads to subdue prey. Cribellate spiders use capture threads, whose adhesion is based on thousands of nanofibers instead of specialized glue. The nanofibers adhere due to van der Waals and hygroscopic forces, but the adhesion is strengthened by an interaction with the cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) covering almost all insects. The interaction between CHCs and cribellate threads becomes visible through migration of the CHCs into the thread even far beyond the point of contact. In this study, we were able to show that the migrated CHCs not only influence adhesion but also change the mechanical characteristics of the thread. While adhesion, extensibility and total energy decreased in threads treated with CHCs from different insects, we observed an increasing force required to break threads. Such mechanical changes could be beneficial for the spider: Upon the first impact of the insect in the web, it is important to absorb all the energy without breaking. Afterwards, a reduction in extensibility could cause the insect to stay closer to the web and thus become additionally entangled in neighboring threads. An increased tensile force would additionally ensure that for insects already in the web, it is even harder to free themselves. Taken together, all these changes make it unlikely that cribellate spiders reuse their capture threads, if not reacting rapidly and removing the prey insect before the CHCs can spread across the thread. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Cribellate spiders use capture threads that, unlike other spiders, consist of nanofibers and do not rely glue. Instead, prey adheres mainly because their surface compounds, so-called cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), interact with the thread, this way generating strong adhesion forces. Previous studies on biomechanics and adhesion of cribellate threads only dealt with artificial surfaces, neglecting any interaction with surface compounds. This study examines the dramatical mechanical changes of a cribellate thread after interaction with prey CHCs, showing modifications of the thread's extensibility, tensile force and total energy. Our results highlight the importance of studying mechanical properties of silk not only in an artificial context, but also in real life.