Fig. 3.
The effect of squeezing on contractile force varies with muscle length. A representative length-tension curve (n = 1) shows isometric force produced at a series of lengths immediately before (gray circles) and after (black circles) squeezing (A). The effect of squeezing on isometric force is consistent across multiple semimembranosus muscles (n = 7) (B). The average change in isometric force (postsqueeze force minus presqueeze force) is negative at short lengths and positive at long lengths. Squeezing has little to no effect on isometric force at intermediate lengths ∼1.1–1.15 L0. Asterisks denote statistically significant differences in presqueeze and postsqueeze forces. Error bars represent SEs of means. Total muscle forces are reported, representing the sum of both active and passive contributions to force.