PURPOSE: To examine the effect of respiratory physiotherapy among men with obstructive respiratory disorder, in relation to abdominal circumference (AC). METHODS: Quasi-experimental study including 26 men split into two groups according to AC(cm): 1) < 102 (AC(risk-free)); and 2) >/= 102 (AC(risk)). Heart rate variability (HRV), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), oxygen saturation (SpO(2)), FEV(1)/FVC, slow vital capacity (SVC), inspiratory capacity (IC), maximal inspiratory pressure (PI(max)), thoracoabdominal amplitude (AI) were measured: before (M(1)); 5 min after the physiotherapy (i.e. breathing exercises for airway clearance and active kinesiotherapy) (M(2)); and at follow-up, 30 min after physiotherapy (M(3)). RESULTS: The groups differed in age, body mass index and body fat %. At M(2) IC was different between groups (AC(risk-free)< AC(risk)). There was an increase in HRV indexes, PI(max), SpO(2), axillary AI, FEV(1)/FVC, and reduction in HR for AC(risk-free). There was a decrease in AI and an increase in DBP for AC(risk). CONCLUSION: In men with obstructive respiratory disorder, increased AC measurement limited the thoracoabdominal expansibility and induced a rise of the DBP. Respiratory physiotherapy promotes an increase of cardiac modulation and inspiratory capacity for men with obstructive respiratory disorder.