Plastic hinges are generally developed at both ends of reinforced concrete (RC) beams in the post-yield region. To complete the plastic deformation mechanism, column plastic hinges at the base of the structure are also required. The longitudinal axial strain in the plastic hinge regions of RC columns has a significant influence on the behavior of RC structures subjected to reversed cyclic loading. This strain affects energy dissipation in the hysteretic response by causing the sliding along interconnecting wide flexural cracks. In addition, the strain also influences on the deformability of RC structures. In order to investigate the effects of the axial force on the axial strain in the plastic hinge region of RC members, experimental and analytical study was performed with ten RC members subjected to reversed cyclic loading. The experimental and analytical results indicated that the axial force significantly decreased the axial strain in the plastic hinge region of RC members.