How strong are our ligaments/cartilage/connective tissue?

Question

I'm wondering

Answer 1

They're pretty darned strong when you consider the years of abuse most people put on them and the number of years they continue doing what they're supposed to do.

Answer 2

Generally speaking, without getting too scientific, catilagenous tissues have really darn good tensile and compressive strength, but rather poor shear strength. Tensile strength can be referred to pulling apart two ends of the tissue...imagine pulling a string from each end. Compressive strength implies how well it can maintain pressure from top to bottom...imagine the use of a visce. Shear refers to a tangential force...imagine putting your two hands together and twisting them back and forth in opposite directions.

Ligaments (and it depends on the ligament)...but generally speaking tend to have poorer tensile stregth, but good shear strength.