Methods: the patients were divided randomly into an experimental group (EG, n=14; age=82±4 years) that received conventional physiotherapy plus inspiratory muscle training (IMT) with threshold IMT® and a control group (CG, n=14; age=81±6 years) that received only conventional physiotherapy. The predictors evaluates were the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and the index of Tobin (IT). The protocol for muscle training consisted of an initial load of 30% MIP, which was increased by 10% daily; training was administered for five minutes, twice a day, seven times a week with supplemental oxygen for the entire period from the decision to wean up to extubation.