Cartilage injury often results in matrix degradation and in secondary osteoarthritis. This study was designed to correlate cell death and matrix degradation with biomechanical properties of cartilage. Full-thickness mature bovine femoral articular cartilage was harvested as 5 mm diameter cylindrical disk explants. Explants were divided into three groups: control, injury, and IL-1. The injury group was subjected to mechanical compression of 40% strain for five minutes. The IL-1 group was cultured in media containing 10 ng/mL of IL-1 beta. The control group was not injured or exposed to IL-1 beta. Chondrocyte viability, glycosaminoglycan release in media, and equilibrium creep were measured ten days after injury. A reduction in cell viability was seen after injury. A significant increase in glycosaminoglycan release and in equilibrium creep was detected in injured explants and in explants exposed to IL-1 beta. A correlation was also found between the equilibrium creep and glycosaminoglycan content after injury and IL-1 beta stimulation.