OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of upper limb resistance exercise on the functional capacity, muscle function, and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. SETTING: Clinical School of Physiotherapy in a Public University of Brazil. SUBJECTS: 58 patients were recruited; of these, 7 were excluded and 51 individuals were enrolled. INTERVENTION: Control group performed warm-up, aerobic exercise, inspiratory muscle training, and session stretching, followed by massage therapy. The treatment group performed warm-up, aerobic exercise, inspiratory muscle training, three sets of upper limb resistance exercise, and session stretching, followed by massage therapy. Total three sessions per week for eight weeks. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: 6-minute walk test, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, dyspnea, and quality of life. Normality of the data was tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test; paired analysis of variance was used for intergroup analyses. RESULTS: 51 patients (25 in the control group and 26 in the treatment group); 41% of the subjects were men. Mean forced expiratory volume was 2.6 +/- 0.6 L, and mean body mass index was 27.3 +/- 7.0 kg/m2. The upper limb resistance exercise resulted in significantly greater benefit in terms of exercise capacity (88.5 +/- 81.9 m, p = 0.043), inspiratory muscle strength (22.9 +/- 24.2 cmH2O, p = 0.001), upper limb muscle strength (2.3 +/- 3.1 kg, p = 0.027), and quality of life scores (-15.3 +/- 10.9 points, p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Upper limb resistance exercise improved the exercise capacity, respiratory muscle strength, and quality of life.

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