During each visit, participants were asked to assessperceived muscle soreness by means of a ten-point visual
analog scale (VAS). Participants were then seated on a dynamometer (Biodex Medical, NY, USA) and performed
an MVC for 10s of the knee from a fixed angle of 90ฐ. This was repeated twice with 120 s rest in between each
contraction. Participants were given 120 s of rest before beginning the eccentric exercise protocol which consisted
of 20 sets of 10 eccentric contractions at 0.52 rads/s between 90ฐ and 120ฐ. Each set was separated by 120
s on the dynamometer. Immediately after the eccentric exercise an additional blood sample was taken, muscle
soreness assessed and MVC measured