The matrix of the human tendon causes, by contact-guidance, the tendon-derived cells (TDCs) to be aligned towards the direction of strain. In tendinopathy, the matrix integrity is lost, leading to the question what the orientational reaction of TDCs will be when obligated to strain. In the first experiment of this research, the TDCs were obligated for 2, 4 and 24 hours to uniaxial cyclic strain at 9.5% and 0.5Hz, their results were, together with the results of human vena sephena cells (HVSCs) which underwent the same treatment, analysed. Both cell types showed strain avoidance after 24 hours. Using their strain avoidance ability, in a second experiment, both the TDCs and the HVSCs were aligned and thereafter uniaxial cyclic strained in the direction parallel to the alignment. After 24 hours of uniaxial cyclic straining at a frequency of 0.5Hz to a strain of 5.2%, 8.6% or 9.5%, both the TDCs and the HVSCs showed again their strain avoidance ability.