Experimental design
The cross-sectional study consisted two visits (on two different days with a washout period of at least seven days), in a randomized, balanced sequence. Visit A was the vigorous-intensity intervention and included a treadmill walking intervention with gradual increase in the angle of ascent until volitional exhaustion. Visit B, the moderate-intensity intervention involved guided walking training at individual walking speed. During each training intervention, loading-associated outcomes were monitored. The acute effects were determined using pre- and post-intervention measurements.