Emphysema is a debilitating disease that is characterized by irreversible damage in the alveolar walls due to lung hyperinflation. One of the major consequences of this disease is diminished exercise capacity, thought to be caused by blood-gas imbalances, or from peripheral mechanisms such as reductions in skeletal muscle blood flow, or alterations in metabolism. PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of endurance exercise training on the oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle in the elastase-induced emphysema hamster model. METHODS: Thirty-five adult male hamsters were utilized for this study. The hamsters were randomly divided by disease state; emphysema (EMP) or none (noEMP); activity level, endurance exercised trained (Ex), or sedentary (Sed); and dobutamine timing, prevention of diaphragm fatigue before simulated exercise stress (Prev), or treatments of diaphragm fatigue after simulated exercise (Tx). Cytochrome oxidase levels in the vastus lateralis, gastrocnemius, and soleus were analyzed. Group comparisons were made using an ANOVA. RESULTS: The emphysemic endurance trained hamsters showed significantly higher oxidative capacities (measured via μmol/min/g) in the vastus lateralis (Ex/EMP: 6.24 ± 2.68 vs. Sed/EMP: 3.56± 2.41, p<0.05). The endurance trained hamsters showed significantly higher oxidative capacities in both the treatment and prevention mechanisms of dobutamine administration in the vastus lateralis (Ex/Tx: 6.54 ± 2.30 vs. Sed/Tx: 4.34 ± 3.08 and, Ex/Prev: 5.45 ± 2.69 vs. Sed/Prev: 2.88 ± 1.55, p<0.05) and the soleus (Ex/Tx: 6.57 ± 2.92 vs. Sed/Tx: 6.09 ± 2.51 and, Ex/Prev: 5.83 ± 2.49 vs. Sed/Prev: 3.03 ± 0.68, p<0.05) when compared to those sedentary hamsters. However the hamsters that were sedentary were more responsive to the dobutamine treatment when compared to the dobutamine prevention in the vastus lateralis and soleus. CONCLUSION: Endurance training decreased the loss of oxidative capacity in hamster skeletal muscle that occurs with emphysema.