Exercise capacity in children born early

Preterm birth (which occurs at less than 37 weeks of gestation) interrupts gestation in the second or third trimesters when lung growth and development is undergoing a phase sensitive to injury. Interruption of this process by preterm birth and tissue injury incurred during neonatal intensive care, often leads to impaired pulmonary and cardiovascular function throughout childhood and beyond into adulthood. The reduced lung function is due to anatomical and physiological abnormalities such as a reduced lung volume and change in the calibre and reactivity of the airways. Studies have accurately documented these seemingly irreversible changes and also show that many of these prematurely born children are physically less active than their peers born at term.