The Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Breathing Pattern and Functionality in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure.

Inclusion Criteria: * adults aged ≥ 18 years * diagnosis of heart failure within the previous three to twelve months * current outpatients in a stable optimal medical regimen for at least 3 months * able to perform inspiratory muscle training * clinically stable, without hospital admission in the previous 3 months and without participation in any other training program in the previous 6 months Exclusion Criteria * unstable angina * recent acute myocardial infarction * uncontrolled hypertension * valve disease * peripheral arterial disease * 6MWT assessment of less than 300 meters * previous pulmonary disease (forced vital capacity \<80% of predicted and/or forced expiratory volume in 1 s \<70% of predicted) * history of exercise-induced asthma * smokers