A cohort of survivors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), with matched controls, was studied to assess growth, respiratory function, and exercise performance. Nineteen of 24 survivors from an 11 year period (79%) were compared with 19 matched controls. Subjects had detailed auxology, performed spirometry and cycle ergometry, and completed questionnaires about respiratory symptoms and exercise. There were no significant diVerences between the groups for height, weight, sitting height, head circumference, or body mass index expressed as SD scores. The mean (95% confidence interval) percentage predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) was 84.7% (79.1 to 90.3) in index cases and 96.5% (91.4 to 101.6) in controls (p < 0.01). There was no significant diVerence in total lung capacity. Expiratory flow rates corrected for FVC were also similar between groups, suggesting normal airway function relative to lung size. Mean maximum oxygen consumption in ml/kg/min was 40.1 (36.8 to 43.4) and 42.2 (38.5 to 45.8) in index and control cases. These diVerences were not significant. Index cases achieved a similar minute ventilation to controls by more rapid and shallower breathing. Index cases had lower perception of their own fitness and lower enjoyment of exercise, although habitual activity levels were similar. Survivors of CDH repair have reduced functional lung volumes, but normal airway function compared with matched controls. They have no growth impairment nor significant impairment of exercise performance, although they have more negative perceptions of their own fitness. They should be encouraged and expected to participate fully in sport and exercise. (Arch Dis Child 1998;78:137-142)

The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze systematically the coaching behaviors of more and less successful high school boys’ tennis coaches during practice sessions. The Arizona State University Observation Instrument, consisting of 14 behavior categories, was used to compile data on nine coaches (five judged as more successful and four judged less successful, based on win records). Time sampled event recording was used to collect the data, with each coach being observed during preseason/early season, midseason, and late season for a total of three observations per coach. Analysis of the data showed that the more successful coaches asked a significantly greater number of questions of their players than did the less successful coaches. The tennis coaches demonstrated more instructional behaviors than any other behavior but spent more intervals in the Other category than in any other behavioral category. Other, Management, and Silence accounted for almost 75% of all intervals.

Injury risk is an important concern for runners; however, limited evidence exists regarding changes to injury risk following running style retraining. Biomechanical factors, such as absolute peak free moment, knee abduction impulse, peak foot eversion and foot eversion excursion, have been shown to predict lower limb injury. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Pose running retraining on biomechanical factors associated with lower limb running injury. Twenty uninjured recreational runners were pair-matched based on their five km run time performance and randomly assigned to control (n = 10) and intervention (three 2-h Pose running retraining sessions) groups (n = 10). Three dimensional kinetic and kinematic data were collected from all participants running at relative (REL: 1.5 km·h below respiratory compensation point) and absolute (ABS: 4.5 m·s) speeds. Biomechanical factors associated with lower limb injury, as well as selected kinematic variables (to aid interpretation), were assessed. Following a six-week, non-coached time-period, all assessments were repeated. No changes to the biomechanical factors associated with lower limb injury examined in this study were observed (P > .05). Intervention group participants (presented as pre- and post-intervention respectively) exhibited an increased foot strike index (REL speed: 21.79-42.66%; ES = 4.73; P = .012 and ABS speed: 22.38-46.98%; ES = 2.83; P = .008), reduced take-off distance (REL speed: -0.35 to -0.32 m; ES = 0.75; P = .012), increased knee flexion at initial contact (REL speed: -14.11 to -18.50°; ES = -0.88; P = .003), increased ankle dorsiflexion at terminal stance (REL speed: -33.61 to -28.35°; ES = 1.57; P = .036) and reduced stance time (ABS speed: 0.21-0.19 s; ES = -0.85; P = .018). Finally, five km run time did not change (22:04-22:19 min; ES = 0.07; P = .229). It was concluded that following Pose running retraining, retrained participants adopted a running style that was different to their normal style without changing specific, biomechanical factors associated with lower limb injury or compromising performance.

Physical activity homework was deemed to be an effective method of increasing college students' levels of physical activity.

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