Background: Respiratory muscle training has been shown to improve both its strength and endurance. The effect of these improvements on whole-body exercise performance remains controversial. Objective: To assess the effect of a 10 week inspiratory resistive loading (IRL) intervention on respiratory muscle performance and whole-body exercise endurance. Methods: Fifteen apparently healthy subjects (10 men, 5 women) were randomly allocated to one of three groups. One group underwent IRL set at 80% of maximum inspiratory pressure with ever decreasing work/rest ratios until task failure, for three days a week for 10 weeks (IRL group). A second placebo group performed the same training procedure but with a minimal resistance (PLA group). IRL and placebo training were performed at rest. The remaining five control subjects performed no IRL during the 10 week study period (CON group). Cycling endurance capacity at 75% V O 2 peak was measured before and after the intervention. Results: After the 10 week IRL intervention, respiratory muscle strength (maximum inspiratory pressure) and endurance (sum of sustained maximum inspiratory pressure) had significantly improved (by 34% and 38% respectively). An increase in diaphragm thickness was also observed. These improvements translated into a 36% increase in cycling time to exhaustion at 75% V O 2 peak. During cycling trials, heart rate, ventilation, and rating of perceived exertion were attenuated in the IRL group. No changes were observed for the PLA or CON group either in the time to exhaustion or cardiorespiratory response to the same intensity of exercise. Conclusion: Ten weeks of IRL attenuated the heart rate, ventilatory, and perceptual response to constant workload exercise, and improved the cycling time to exhaustion. Familiarisation was not a factor and the placebo effect was minimal.

This study investigated the relationship between the intensity of an inspiratory muscle training programme and its effect on respiratory muscle strength, exercising heart rate, and ratings of perceived exertion. A total of 66 subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group trained at 100% of maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) for 6 weeks (MAX, n=22). A second group performed 6 weeks of inspiratory muscle training at 80% of MIP (SUB, n=21) and a third control group received no inspiratory training (CON, n=23). Both the MAX and SUB training groups improved MIP relative to the control group [32 (19) cmH(2)O, P=0.01; 37 (25) cmH(2)O, P=0.001, respectively]. A significant decrease in heart rate [-6 (9) beats min(-1), P=0.02] and rating of perceived exertion [-0.5 (1.4), P=0.04] was observed for the MAX group only. It is concluded that 6 weeks of both MAX and SUB training were sufficient to improve inspiratory muscle strength. However, exercising heart rate and perceived exertion decreased with MAX training only.

There is little information that the orthopaedic surgeon can provide for patients concerned about the effect of a total hip arthroplasty (THA) operation on their ability to continue playing golf and at what level they can hope to play.We present the results of a study into the effect of THA for osteoarthritis on the golfing habits and performance of 750 patients. We sent 750 patients a questionnaire, which enquired about their participation in golf before and after the operation. We received 698 replies, 66 of which were from golfers.Harris hip scores are prospectively acquired before surgery and at regular intervals afterwards for all patients undergoing hip arthroplasty at our centre. Comparisons of hip scores for golfers were consistently higher than for non-golfers at all intervals.There was no statistically significant difference in the number of games played, maximum shot distance, shot accuracy, handicap, or ability to walk around the course after the operation.We conclude that THA does not have a detrimental effect on golf participation or performance. Aims: In Ireland, the demographics of sport related injury (SRI) in children has not adequately been described, as indicated by the paucity of publications in the medical literature, and the purpose of this study was to provide up-to-date data to correct this deficiency.Methods: Data were collected on all children under 17 years of age with a SRI, presenting to the emergency medicine department of a major teaching hospital, over a six month period. The data, which included sport, age, sex, cause, type, site, time of injury, and management, were entered into a database.Results: We analysed 23 000 records, and identified 1143 SRIs over a six month period, from 53 different sports. Our results indicate many statistical differences, some of which were previously unreported, including a high proportion of humerus (p = 0.03) and back (p = 0.01) SRIs in girls, a higher proportion of falls in girls (p = 0.0001) and interindividual collisions in boys (p = 0.0001), low usage of protective gear (6% of SRIs), infrequent advice on RICE/general injury (25% of SRIs) and injury preventive measures (<1% of SRIs), decreased analgesia prescription in children under age 5, and rarity of topical analgesic prescription (<1% of analgesics prescribed). Conclusions:The data provided may raise awareness of the different aspects of SRIs affecting children and may be important in formulating injury prevention strategies.003 A THREE MONTH HOME EXERCISE PROGRAMME Method: Patients presenting to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) between November 2001 and November 2002 with a diagnosis of AKP were allocated to a one week inpatient education and rehabilitation course. They were assessed for levels of pain intensity and effect using a visual analogue scale score, self reported disability using a Chesworth questionnaire, 1 and function with a figure of 8 test. They were prescribed a progressive exercise regimen including eccentric loading, postural stability, and flexibility e...

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