Table 4 Baseline data, baseline-adjusted post-test data, as well as pre-to-post changes of psychometric and physiological markers for the male group (G_M; n = 12) and the female group (G_F; n = 12)

Sleep

3.58 ± 0.673 (3.15–4.01)

4.33 ± 0.53 (3.99–4.66)

20.95

0.006

6.21 ± 0.17 (5.84–6.57)

6.12 ± 0.17 (5.75–6.48)

0.005

0.742

−1.45

0.93

< 0.001

0.86

< 0.001

Fatigue

3.16 ± 0.96 (2.55–3.77)

4.41 ± 0.57 (4.05–4.78)

39.56

0.001

5.62 ± 0.24 (5.11–6.13)

5.87 ± 0.24 (5.36–6.38)

0.019

0.526

4.45

0.89

< 0.001

0.71

< 0.001

DOMS

1.91 ± 0.74 (1.44–2.39)

2.61 ± 0.60 (2.23–2.99)

36.65

0.019

4.85 ± 0.17 (4.49–5.22)

4.72 ± 0.17 (4.36–5.09)

0.011

0.636

−2.68

0.90

< 0.001

0.86

< 0.001

HI

12.10 ± 2.07 (10.78–13.41)

14.91 ± 1.88 (13.71–16.11)

23.22

0.002

22.14 ± 0.46 (21.17–23.10)

22.52 ± 0.46 (21.56–23.48)

0.013

0.602

1.72

0.95

< 0.001

0.90

< 0.001

RPE

5.83 ± 0.89 (5.26–6.39)

6.97 ± 0.81 (6.45–7.49)

19.55

0.003

7.34 ± 0.18 (6.97–7.72)

7.56 ± 0.18 (7.19–7.94)

0.029

0.438

2.99

0.72

< 0.001

0.28

0.061

HR (beat/min)

184.50 ± 1.32 (183.65–185.34)

187 ± 1.66 (185.94–188.05)

1.36

0.001

180.26 ± 0.53 (179.14–181.37)

183.32 ± 0.53 (182.21–184.43)

0.381

0.002

1.70

0.67

< 0.001

0.82

< 0.001