negative work

(industrial engineering) Work that is performed with the assistance of gravity so that the muscular effort required involves only control of the load.

The absorption of mechanical work when an active muscle is stretched during an eccentric action. A muscle stretched a distance D, while exerting a force F, is said to do an amount FD of negative work. Running downhill, lowering a weight, bending down, and walking downstairs, are all examples of negative work.