The formal inclusion of participation in the new Canadian sport policy in 2002 marks a significant change in the Canadian sporting landscape, a change examined in this Masters thesis through a qualitative research methodology in the form of a questionnaire, interviews, and document analysis. The first section of the thesis seeks to gain a better understanding of what factors led the federal government to add participation to the new Canadian Sport Policy, and what the agendas were of the key stakeholders in the formation of the policy. Findings support Kingdon's Multiple Streams Theory but highlight the importance a single individual can have in driving the policy agenda. The second section examines the participation pillar's effect on NSOs related to new initiatives implemented and organizational structure and values linked to organizational archetypes. Six structure- and value-based barriers to change were found, throwing doubt on the ability of NSOs to deliver participation initiatives.

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Master of Science / Department of Kinesiology / Craig A. Harms / High-intensity interval training (HIT) has been utilized as a time-efficient strategy to induce numerous physiological adaptations and improve performance usually associated with “traditional” endurance training (ET). It is not known however, if HIT might lead to improvements in pulmonary function. Therefore we hypothesized that HIT would increase respiratory muscle strength and expiratory flow rates. Fifteen healthy subjects were randomly assigned to an ET group (n = 7) and a HIT group (n = 8). All subjects performed an incremental test to exhaustion (VO2 max) on a cycle ergometer prior to and after training. Standard pulmonary function tests, maximum inspiratory pressure (PImax), maximum expiratory pressure (PEmax), and maximal flow volume loops, were performed pre training and after each week of training. HIT subjects performed a four week training program on a cycle ergometer at 90% of their VO2 max final workload while the ET subjects performed exercise at 60-70% of their VO2 max final workload. All subjects trained three days/ week. The HIT group performed five one-minute bouts with three minute recovery periods and the ET group cycled for 45 minutes continuously at a constant workload. A five-mile time trial was performed prior to training, after two weeks of training, and after four weeks of training. Both groups showed similar (p<0.05) increases in VO2 max (~8-10%) and improvements in time trials following training (HIT 6.5 ± 1.3%, ET 4.4 ± 1.8%) with no difference (p>0.05) between groups. Both groups increased (p<0.05) PImax post training (ET ~25%, HIT ~43%) with values significantly higher for HIT than ET. There was no change (p>0.05) in expiratory flow rates with training in either group. These data suggest that whole body exercise training is effective in increasing inspiratory muscle strength with HIT leading to greater improvements than ET. Also, HIT offers a time-efficient alternative to ET in improving aerobic capacity and performance.

Ten healthy subjects exercised on a cycle ergometer at 60, 120, and 150-180 W while breathing nasally. Nasal inspiratory flow, nasal dilator muscle (alae nasi; A.N.) EMG activities, and alveolar CO₂ and O₂ were measured at rest and at each work rate. On separate days six of the subjects exercised at 30-60, and 60-120 W while nasal airway resistance was measured by anterior rhinomanometry. In both protocols, 12-15 breaths of a He:O₂ (79:21%) gas mixture were substituted surreptitiously for air under each condition. He:O₂ breathing resulted in a decrease in flow turbulence and intranasal pressure, and therefore, resistance, as indicated by lower calculated Reynold's numbers. He:O₂ evoked an increase in nasal inspiratory flow, and reductions in nasal pressure and A.N. EMG activities (25-50%) at each work rate. These results suggest that A.N. EMG during exercise is controlled by increases in intranasal pressure, not by nasal flow. Thus, the data suggest that sensory information from pressure sensitive nasal receptors in the nasal lumen serve to modulate A.N. EMG activities during exercise.