An investigation is reported in which, to study the effect of rapid heating and cooling on polymeric fibres, constant-geometry isothermal and dynamic shrinkage-tension experiments were designed by using a flexible thermomechanical analyser (FTMA). In isothermal shrinkage-tension experiments, the monofilaments (nylon and PET) were monitored at different setting temperatures over a range of times. The effects of the previous thermal history and different heating rates were also studied. During initial experiments, stress build-up was observed after cooling, and this was shown to be a major instrumental artefact. Shrinkage tension on heating is discussed in terms of the unlocking of frozen-in strains.