Present surgical procedures for the repair of tendon injury are complicated by formation of peritendinous collagenous adhesions which restrict tendon gliding. Several sensitive biomechanical tests have been developed to quantitate peritendinous restriction of gliding. Using these tests it was found that cis-hydroxyproline significantly limits net collagen accumulation following tendon injury in a rat model and decreases the adhesive restraints to tendon gliding. cis-Hydroxyproline and other proline analoques offer a method for specifically preventing excessive collagen formation.