Fig. 10. Examples of muscle length changes (Length) (A,B) and work loops (C) during realistic contractions with (dotted lines) or without (solid lines) an isometric relaxation period. The length changes shown in A are from a muscle shortening by 10 % L_max, where L_max is the length at which active force production is maximal, or incorporating an isometric relaxation period such that the absolute amplitude of shortening was less than 10 % L_max. The length changes pictured in B are similar to those in A, except that the maximum amplitude of shortening was 15 % L_max. The work loops in C correspond to the length changes in B. The numbers beside the traces correspond to the contraction types listed in Table 2.