Despite the increase in asynchrony, both breathing exercises were able to improve chest wall volumes without affecting dyspnea. The combination of exercises maintained the benefits but did not reduce the adverse effects of diaphragmatic breathing.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of an inspiratory muscle training protocol on inspiratory muscle function, functional capacity, and quality of life in patients with asthma. Design: A single-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting: Community-based. Subjects: Patients with asthma, aged between 20 and 70 years old, non-smokers. Interventions: Participants were randomized into two groups: inspiratory muscle training group performed inspiratory muscle training 5 days a week for 8 weeks, consisting of six sets of 30 breaths per day with a training load ⩾50% of maximal inspiratory pressure, plus an educational program; the control group only received the educational program. Main measurements: Maximal inspiratory pressure, inspiratory muscle endurance, and the distance performed on the incremental shuttle walking test were assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention and at follow-up (3 months after the end of the intervention). The asthma quality of life questionnaire was applied pre and post-intervention. Results: Data from 39 participants were analyzed. Maximal inspiratory pressure in percentage of predicted and endurance test duration were significantly higher post-intervention in the inspiratory muscle training group (∆ post–pre: 50.8% vs 7.3% of predicted – P < 0.001 and ∆ post–pre: 207.9 seconds vs 2.7 seconds – P < 0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in the incremental shuttle walking distance between groups (∆ post–pre: 30.9 m vs −8.1 m, P = 0.165). Quality of life was perceived as significantly better, without a difference between groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusions: About 8 weeks of inspiratory muscle training in patients with controlled asthma significantly increased inspiratory muscle strength and endurance.

(p<0.05) between oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) and oxygen pulse (r=0.76), age (r=0.35) and body mass index (r=0.45) were found. There was no significant correlation between ventricular ejection fraction and the others studied variables. Comparing the functional classes of NYHA, significantly differences were found to VO 2 and oxygen pulse (p<0.05). In this study, the correlations reflect the complexity in analyzing and understanding the process of disfunction in HF, once probably other factors influence each of the variables studied. The classification of NYHA was effective to differentiate the patients with HF, reinforcing the indication of this stratification to identify different groups of HF patients to scientific researches and therapeutic interventions.Keywords | exercise test; heart failure; classification. ) e pulso de oxigênio (r=0, 76), idade (r=0,35) e índice de massa corpórea (r=0, 45). Não houve correlação significativa entre fração de ejeção ventricular e as demais variáveis estudadas. Comparando as classes da NYHA, foram encontradas diferenças para VO 2 e pulso de oxigênio (p<0, 05). Nesta pesquisa, as correlações refletem a complexidade de se analisar e entender o processo de disfunção da IC, considerando que provavelmente há outros fatores influenciando cada uma das variáveis estudadas. A classificação da NYHA foi efetiva na diferenciação dos indivíduos nos diferentes grupos, reforçando sua utilidade na caracterização de grupos de indivíduos com IC para fins de pesquisas cientí-ficas, assim como para avaliação de terapêuticas. RESUMO |Descritores | teste de esforço; insuficiência cardíaca; classificação.Capacidade funcional de indivíduos com insuficiência cardíaca avaliada pelo teste de esforço cardiopulmonar e classificação da New York Heart Association

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