Residual force enhancement during submaximal and maximal effort contractions of the plantar flexors across knee angle

Following active muscle lengthening, steady-state isometric force is elevated compared with an isometric contraction without prior lengthening for the same muscle length and activation level. This property of muscle contraction is known as residual force enhancement (RFE). Here, we aimed to determine whether neural factors may mask some of the mechanical benefits of RFE on plantar flexion torque production. Inherent to lengthening contractions is an increase in cortical and spinal-mediated inhibition, while knee flexion places the medial gastrocnemius at a neuromechanical disadvantage.
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Source Type: research