Figure 3. Mean values of force decrease (FD) and force increase (RFE, SSC_1 s, SSC_0.5 s, SSC_0 s) (±SE) normalized to the values of the isometric reference contraction at the corresponding thumb angle for protocol 1.

Residual force enhancement (RFE) for the pure stretch condition was 20.6%; whereas RFE for the SSC_0 s and SSC_0.5 s conditions was significantly lower (11.4 & 13.0%) than RFE for the pure stretch conditions. When a 1 s interval (SSC_1 s) was introduced between the shortening and the stretch phase, the effect of shortening on force enhancement were abolished and the forces between the two conditions were similar (16.5 ± 8.5%). *compared to RFE. Inset: scatter plot for each individual subject. Note that the colors of the scatter plot correspond to the colors in the main graph.