Figure 4. Mean values of force decrease (FD) and force increase (RFE, SSC_15°/s, SSC_60°/s, SSC_120°/s) (±SE) normalized to the values of the isometric reference contractions at the corresponding thumb angle for protocol 2.

Residual force enhancement (RFE) for the pure stretch conditions was 12.3%; whereas RFE for the SSC_60°/s and SSC_120°/s conditions was significantly lower (4.7 & 7.1%, respectively) than RFE for the pure stretch conditions. When stretching was performed at 15°/s (SSC_15°/s), the effect of shortening on force enhancement was abolished and the forces between the two conditions were similar 11.0 ± 9.8%). *compared to RFE. Inset: scatter plot for each individual subject. Note that the color scheme in the scatter plot matches that of the main figure.