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Purpose: This study aimed to compare cardiorespiratory effects in men with restrictive lung disorders, according to the abdominal circumference (AC), undergoing respiratory physical therapy. Materials and methods: Quasi-experimental study with a sample 26 men with forced vital capacity (FVC)pred <80%, who were divided into two groups: AC (cm) < 102 (ACfree_risk) and ≥ 102 (ACrisk). Heart rate variability (HRV), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), blood pressure (BP), lung capacities and maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax) were measured at rest (T1), immediately after physical therapy intervention (T2), which consisted of breathing exercises for pulmonary expansion, active kinesiotherapy to lower and upper limbs, and after 30 min (T3). The statistical tests used were ANOVA and independent t tests (p <.05). Results: ACrisk had the highest values for slow vital capacity (SVC), inspiratory capacity (IC), PEmax and systolic BP (p <.05); there was an increase in HRV (T2), SpO2 (%) [95.0 (2.5) to 96.6 (1.4)] and IC (l) [2.4 (0.5) to 2.7 (0.6)] (T3). Conclusions: Men with restrictive respiratory disorders and AC ≥102 has higher values in the inspiratory capacities and arterial pressure level, and benefit from respiratory physiotherapy by differential increase in IC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]