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Investigators currently lack the data necessary to define the state of skeletal muscle properties within the cadaver. The purpose of this study is to define the temporal changes in the postmortem properties of skeletal muscle as a function of mechanical loading and freezer storage. The tibialis anterior of the New Zealand White rabbit was chosen for study. Modulus and no-load strain were found to vary significantly from live after eight hours postmortem. Following the dynamic changes which occur at the onset and during rigor mortis, a semi-stable region of postmortem, post-rigor properties occurred between 36 to 72 hours postmortem. A freeze-thaw process was not found to have a significant effect on the post-rigor response. The first loading cycle response of post-rigor muscle was unrepeatable but stiffer than live passive muscle.