DOMS-inducing exercise protocol (DIP)

Participants reported to the laboratory in a 2-h postprandial state. Participants performed a general warm-up, pedaling on a stationary cycle ergometer with a fixed workload of 1 kp resistance at 70 RPM for 5 min.8 Following the warm-up, participants completed a DIP. During each DIP, participants performed 2 sets of 5 repetitions barbell back squats using a load equivalent to 50% of their previously established 1RM.8 To induce DOMS, each participant performed 10 sets of 10 repetitions of barbell back squats at 60% of their estimated 1RM with 2-min rest periods separating each set. Squat depth was standardized by using stacked 5-cm spacers to ensure the femur was parallel to the floor during the amortization phase of the squat.9 Using a metronome to standardize cadence of each repetition, the squat tempo consisted of a 4-s eccentric phase, 1-s pause at the bottom, 2-s concentric phase, and a 1-s pause at the top.9