Figure 2. Change in forearm muscle force after 2 min of intermittent handgrip contractions and at task failure. a) Absolute MVC force was higher in men than women at 2 min and at task failure. b) No gender difference was present in forearm muscle force expressed relative to resting MVC force. The strength-matched gender comparison showed similar changes in muscle force production at 2 min and task failure when expressed in c) absolute or d) relative terms. * significant gender difference (p < 0.05).