Data analysis
A two-level mixed-model analysis was used to examine the dif-ference in the VAS pain score during sports (linear with square root correction), after sports (linear with square root correction),
and the next morning (Poisson with overdispersion) between both weeks in all groups.Acorrection for intensity (0–100) and number of athletic performance that week was included in the model. Also
the interaction between group and week using mixed models was analyzed in order to see if differences in the intervention groups were different from that in the control and placebo group. For the data presentation, the estimated means of the VAS during and 2 h after sports were used (including the aforementioned covariates).