Residual force enhancement due to active muscle lengthening allows similar reductions in neuromuscular activation during position- and force-control tasks.

Background: Residual torque enhancement (rTE) is the increase in torque observed during the isometric steady state following active muscle lengthening when compared with a fixed-end isometric contraction at the same muscle length and level of neuromuscular activation. In the rTE state, owing to an elevated contribution of passive force to total force production, less active force is required, and there is a subsequent reduction in activation. In vivo studies of rTE reporting an activation reduction are often performed using a dynamometer, where participants contract against a rigid restraint, resisting a torque motor.