Table 2.

Reflex force experiments data summary

	Peak F ankle
	90° (N) (n = 24)	>90° (N) (n = 24)	<90° (N) (n = 24)
Push–pull
RC_1	11.8	9.4	10
RC_2	8.7	8.3	6.7
RC_3	24.7	24.8	17.3
RC_4	10.1	12.4	9.9
RC_5	14.2	14.8	14.1
Average	13.9	13.9	11.6
Non-push–pull
RC_1	9.5	7.3	9.1
RC_2	6.1	4.4	5.6
RC_3	19.8	16.5	15.5
RC_4	8.5	7.5	8.6
RC_5	12.2	11.2	12.5
Average	11.2	9.38	10.3
%Δ	24.11 (±10.4)	48.19 (±22.2)	12.6 (±3.8)
t test	0.04	0.0007	0.13

When antagonist muscles are held at a position equivalent to an ankle angle of 90°, the force gain increase afforded by stretching and shortening the muscles in a push–pull configuration is about 24% (first column). If the antagonist muscles are initially held a length corresponding to an ankle angle greater than 90° (5 mm longer), push–pull coupling provides a gain of 48%. If the experiment is started with antagonist muscles shorter than they would be at an ankle angle of 90°, the push–pull gain increase is only 12% (last column). RC_1, Reflex cat 1; RC_2, reflex cat 2; etc.