The objective of this study was to test the hypotheses that (1) the steady-state friction coefficient of articular cartilage is significantly smaller under cyclical compressive loading than the equilibrium friction coefficient under static loading, and decreases as a function of loading frequency; (2) the steady-state cartilage interstitial fluid load support remains significantly greater than zero under cyclical compressive loading and increases as a function of loading frequency. Unconfined compression tests with sliding of bovine shoulder cartilage against glass in saline were carried out on fresh cylindrical plugs (n=12), under three sinusoidal loading frequencies (0.05, 0.5 and 1 Hz) and under static loading; the time-dependent friction coefficient mu(eff) was measured. The interstitial fluid load support was also predicted theoretically. Under static loading mu(eff) increased from a minimum value (mu(min)=0.005+/-0.003) to an equilibrium value (mu(eq)=0.153+/-0.032). In cyclical compressive loading tests mu(eff) similarly rose from a minimum value (mu(min)=0.004+/-0.002, 0.003+/-0.001 and 0.003+/-0.001 at 0.05, 0.5 and 1 Hz) and reached a steady-state response oscillating between a lower-bound (mu(lb)=0.092+/-0.016, 0.083+/-0.019 and 0.084+/-0.020) and upper bound (mu(ub)=0.382+/-0.057, 0.358+/-0.059, and 0.298+/-0.061). For all frequencies it was found that mu(ub)>mu(eq) and mu(lb)<mu(eq)(p<0.05). Under cyclical compressive loading the interstitial fluid load support was found to oscillate above and below the static loading response, with suction occurring over a portion of the loading cycle at steady-state conditions. All theoretical predictions and most experimental results demonstrated little sensitivity to loading frequency. On the basis of these results, both hypotheses were rejected. Cyclical compressive loading is not found to promote lower frictional coefficients or higher interstitial fluid load support than static loading.