2.3. Rehabilitation Protocols
CONTRACTIONS
The training period was 6 weeks long, with training occurring 6 days per week for participants in both groups. As a core of the rehabilitation protocol, two to three strength training sessions were conducted per week (15 training sessions in total), with eccentric-oriented vs. traditional strength training for the ECC and CON groups, respectively (Beyond this, participants enrolled in two/three training sessions per week consisting of medium to high aerobic load (treadmill running), upper body strength, low to moderate load agility, and deceleration/landing skills. Finally, one/two training sessions per week were dedicated to recovery procedures (These training sessions were identical for both groups considering drill selection, sets, reps, and rest periods, but not intensity considering the greater torque produced during eccentric contractions. All training sessions were performed in a one-on-one format by the same highly experienced strength and conditioning coach, who guided participants on how to perform each exercise. The subjects initiated each training session with a standardized warm-up on a stationary bicycle (5–7 min), followed by dynamic stretching, calisthenics, and preparatory exercises (15 min in total). The exercise load was periodized and increased progressively throughout the study period, with deloading in the third and sixth weeks.