Fig. 2. Sustained effect of eccentric exercise on isometric force-length characteristics for maximally stimulated muscle. (A) Maximal isometric force-length relationships before (pre-exercise, closed circles) and 40-60 min after a series of eccentric contractions (post-exercise, open circles). Maximal force, obtained at a stimulation frequency of 200 Hz, was significantly reduced post-exercise at all muscle lengths. (B) Maximal isometric force-length relationship post-exercise, expressed relative to the pre-exercise values. Force loss was less pronounced at L_0,200Hz compared with both shorter and longer lengths. Note that post-exercise (open circles in Fig. 1A and 1B), the muscle was set on the new (1 mm longer) L_0,200Hz. Data are presented as mean ± S.E.M.