Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic airflow limitation that impairs the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, reducing the functional capacity of individuals. As a result, this group has low tolerance for physical exercise with high loads. In this context, intervention strategies such as low-load (LL) and moderate-load (ML) resistance training (RT), inspiratory muscle training (IMT), and blood flow restriction (BFR) have emerged as therapeutic potentials, capable of eliciting acute hemodynamic responses similar to those observed in high-load training.

To assess the effects of IMT and RT with or without BFR on: blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in individuals with COPD.

This study is a randomized crossover experimental clinical trial. The sample consisted of 14 elderly individuals (67.5 ± 1.76 years) of both sexes, diagnosed with mild, moderate, or severe COPD. Initially, they were evaluated for body composition, ankle-brachial index (ABI), arterial occlusion pressure (AOP), inspiratory muscle strength (MIP), dynamometry, and 1RM test. Then, they performed 3 experimental protocols: 1) RT with low load (30% 1RM) + IMT (30% MIP); 2) RT with low load (30% 1RM) + BFR (50% AOP) + IMT; 3) RT with moderate load (50% 1RM) + IMT (50% MIP), with a wash-out period of 48 to 72 hours. BP and HR were measured before, immediately after, and 10 minutes after the exercises. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS – 26.0), with a significance level set at P = 0.05.

A significant reduction in HR was observed in the TRLB+RFS+IMT protocol when comparing pre-intervention to 10 minutes post-intervention and immediately post-exercise to 10 minutes post-intervention. In the TRMB+IMT protocol, there was also a reduction at 10′ post when compared to pre-intervention, with no intergroup differences observed. In the TRLB+RFS+IMT protocol, systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased when comparing pre vs. 10′ post-intervention and immediately post vs. 10′ post-intervention across all three protocols. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) did not show significant intergroup differences; however, the Friedman ANOVA test indicated a significant reduction in the TRLB+RFS+IMT protocol between pre-intervention vs. 10′ post and immediately post vs. 10′ post.

RT, associated with IMT, with or without BFR, promoted a hypotensive effect on SBP and a decrease in HR. However, the TRLB+RFS+IMT was the only protocol that showed a hypotensive effect on DBP. Therefore, further studies are needed to evaluate the chronic effects of these protocols to identify the long-term efficacy of the intervention.

The reduction in BP and HR provided by RT associated with IMT, with or without BFR, was able to optimize gains in the clinical rehabilitation of COPD, as exercise tolerance and functional capacity increased.