Statistical analysis
Data are shown as mean ± standard deviation. The normal distribution (Shapiro – Wilk test) and homoscedasticity (Levene’s test) of the data were checked before any statistical treatment. Between-group differences in variables assessed at a single time point were determined with a one-way ANOVA, whereas differences in those assessed at several time points were determined with a mixed-model ANOVA, setting group and time as the between- and within-subject factor, respectively. In order to reduce the risk of type I error, post hoc differences (Bonferroni test) were only checked when a significant group-by-time interaction effect was found. Effect sizes (partial eta squared, ηp