Isometric exercise training intervention
CONTRACTION
The IET intervention consisted of a 4‐week unsupervised home‐based wall squat programme, comprising of 4 × 2 min bouts, separated by 2 min rest intervals, performed three times per week (12 IET sessions in total). Individualized intensity prescription was based on the participant's knee joint angle acquired from the incremental test to elicit 95% peak HR. All participants recorded HR data following each IET bout and uploaded their full session data to a personal online database which was monitored by the investigators. The decision to prescribe IET based on HR was influenced by the safety and practicality limitations of performing 1‐repetition maximum/maximal voluntary contraction squat tests in untrained participants. As such, the close monitoring of HR allowed for practical and effective intensity monitoring throughout the intervention based on the responses observed in the initial incremental test. Adjacent to HR, participants also recorded a rate of perceived exertion score for each wall squat, which was concurrently utilized in the optimization of IET intensity. During the control period, participants were required to maintain their normal routine and daily activities.