Measures
CORTEX
Before and after the intervention period, all exercise tests were performed on an electronically driven treadmill (mercury® med, h/p/cosmos sports & medical gmbh, Traunstein, Germany) without using a safety belt. To reduce intrasubject variability, the time of the day, the test equipment, as well as the type of running shoes worn were standardized for both, baseline and post-exercise tests. Participants were instructed to avoid exercise for 24 h and strenuous exercise for 48 h prior to testing. In addition, participants were asked to eat about 1.5 to 2 h before exercise testing, not to drink alcohol the day before, and not to consume any alcohol or cigarettes on the day of the test. Temperature was controlled by air conditioning and the difference in temperature between the baseline and post measurement did not exceed ± 0.5° Celsius.﻿In accordance with Saunders et al.A breath-by-breath gas analyser was used to monitor gas exchange during exercise testing (Metalyzer, CORTEX Biophysik GmbH, Leipzig, Germany). Calibration of the gas as well as the flow sensor was performed according to manufacturer recommendations. Meyer et al.