Schaper-Magalhaes F, et al. - This study assessed the echocardiographic parameters in healthy subjects and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in whom overloading of the inspiratory muscles was accomplished using inspiratory muscle training (IMT) fixed at 30% of the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and IMT associated with 5 cmH₂O of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) (IMT + PEEP). Findings revealed that the addition of PEEP attenuated and/or reversed the acute hemodynamic effects induced by overloading of the inspiratory muscles in COPD patients.