AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 10-week combined training programme (aerobic and strength exercise) compared to an aerobic training programme, and respiratory physiotherapy on COPD patients' health. METHODS: Fifty subjects with moderate to severe COPD were randomly assigned to two groups. Combined group (CG, n = 25) who underwent combined training, and aerobic group (AG, n = 25) who underwent aerobic training. These were compared with fifty COPD subjects who underwent respiratory physiotherapy, breathing control and bronchial clearance techniques (RP group, n = 50). We evaluated health state through two questionnaires, St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and SF-36, at the beginning and at the end of the programme. RESULTS: The CG group showed differences (p < 0.0001) in modification rates in state of health compared to the AG and RP groups in the activity (64 +/- 9%, 19 +/- 7%, 1 +/- 15%), impact (35 +/- 5%, 20 +/- 18%, 1 +/- 14%) and total (41 +/- 9%, 26 +/- 17%, 1 +/- 15%) domains assessed by the SGRQ, and the physical function (109 +/- 74%, 22 +/- 12%, 0.1 +/- 18%), physical role (52 +/- 36%, 11 +/- 15%, 1.3 +/- 21%) and vitality (83 +/- 39%, 14 +/- 38%) domains assessed by SF-36. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that combined training in subjects with COPD appears to be a more effective method, with better clinical changes, and improvements in health state perception.

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