Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious, contagious disease with respiratory symptoms such as cough, purulent expectoration, hemoptysis, dyspnea, and thoracic pain. Few studies have considered the limitation of capacity to make exercises in the presence of non-obstructive pulmonary disease. The aim of this study was to compare dyspnea index, oxygen saturation and walked distance by pulmonary TB inpatients. Fifty patients were distributed into two groups, 27 in the control group and 23 in the treatment group. The evaluation was made by the 6-minute walking test as to walked distance, respiratory and cardiac frequency, oxygen saturation and dyspnea index. The treatment group was submitted to a physical exercise program (from 22 to 24 days), after which patients of both groups were again submitted to evaluation. Following comparative statistical analysis (by means of the t-Student test) between the two evaluations for both groups, the treatment group showed significant difference in the walked distance (mean 347.7 m at the first evaluation and 414.2 m at the second one), whereas the control group showed no significant difference. As to dyspnea, the treatment group also presented statistically significant difference. Thus it may be said that pulmonary TB inpatients improved their physical condition, having increased walk distance and perceived less dyspnea after the exercise program.

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