Utilities (e.g., systems, methods, etc.) for reducing or limiting slack in stitching or suture constructs secured to tissues in a manner that limits the need for surgeons to physically pull on patients' muscles to remove such slack and that may ultimately reduce recovery time for patients. In one aspect, a method of creating or anchoring a suture construct (e.g., a method of stitching) in tissue in a manner that produces first and second opposite portions of the construct that can be pulled apart in any appropriate manner to apply a tension in the construct to remove slack therein substantially free of pulling on patients' muscles to remove such slack is disclosed. The present utilities also describe a tool that can be used to automatically apply a predetermined level of tension to a suture construct to remove slack therein.
