The thermodynamic characteristics of the 'bound-to-free' phase transformation of water are studied by means of differential microcalorimetry and FTIR spectroscopy. This phase transition controls the stress relaxation and reshaping of cartilage which we have observed previously under moderate laser heating. It is shown that the FTIR spectrum of bound water in cartilage differs from that of free water in cartilage, and that both show differences to the FTIR spectrum of pure water. The proportion of bound water in cartilage is found to be of the order 4%. We have examined water liberation and absorption kinetics and found them to be controlled by diffusion through the tissue and also by the bound-to-free water transformation. The theoretical modelling and experimental data allowed calculation of diffusion coefficients and the activation energy for water transfer. The latter was found to be close to the heat of phase transformation of water. We have established that the drying and wetting processes in cartilage are reversible (fully or in a part, depending on the temperature of preliminary drying) and can be described by identical solutions of the diffusion problem, with coefficients of water diffusion being the same. The mechanism of water diffusion in cartilaginous tissue is also discussed.