To estimate the effect of the increase in ventilation induced by exercise on the dynamics of respiratory muscle in normal subjects and cases of respiratory diseases, we measured the changes of transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi), gastric pressure (Pga), tension time index of the diaphragm (TTdi) and tension time index of the abdomen (TTab). To confirm the effect of oxygen on exercise endurance, we investigated changes of parameters measured during exercise under air breathing and oxygen inhalation. In normal subjects, we found the increase in diaphragmatic activity as a gradual increase of exercise level, but TTdi always stayed in the non-fatigue zone. On the contrary, patients with COPD showed that TTdi was near fatigue threshold during quiet breathing and crossed easily into fatigue zone during exercise. There was an increase in endurance time with oxygen for COPD patients. Breathing with oxygen was associated with a smooth increase in Pdi during the inspiratory phase which indicates efficient contraction of the diaphragm. During the expiratory phase, the degree of increase in Pga was markedly reduced by oxygen inhalation.