Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a respiratory disease that results in progressive airflow limitation and respiratory distress.

The benefit of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) combined with a pulmonary rehabilitation programme is uncertain. The investigators aimed to demonstrate that, in patients with obstructive pulmonary disease, IMT performed during a PRP is associated with an improvement of dyspnoea and exercise tolerance.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of the inspiratory muscle training (with incremental load every two weeks in two months) performed during pulmonary rehabilitation on dyspnoea, 6 minutes walk test and quality of life using the St George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) in COPD patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Were COPD diagnosed by pulmonary function testing
• Clinically stable
• Abscence of other obstructive diseases
• Signed written consert

Exclusion Criteria:

• Were previous pneumonectomy or lobectomy in the past 6 months
• spontaneous risk of pneumothorax or rib fracture
• Incapacity to follow a standard rehabilitation programme (locomotor deficits, acute cardiac failure and acute exacerbation of COPD at the beginning of the programme)
• The absence of written informed consent.