The progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is frenquiently associated with the increase of breathlessness and intolerance to exercise, reflecting in a negative impact in life quality. The pulmonary rehabilitation is an efficient way to minimize the symptoms caused by COPD. The noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been used with the purpose to reduce the work of the respiratory muscles and to promote better levels of tolerance to effort. The goal of this article was to study the effects of NIV in the pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients degree moderate to severe. Significative differences in tolerance to exercise and decrease of breathlessness sensation were observed in the reviwed studies when ventilatory support to exercise training was used. This abstract was translated into English by the publisher or author.

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