The aim of the present study was to determine whether a reduction in lung volume and chest wall movement using an externally applied thoracic constriction band over an eight-week training period, could improve aerobic capacity and running performance. Participants included 22 healthy, non-active adults (26 ± 4 year (mean ± SD)) who were studied over a period of eight weeks during which they participated in aerobic exercise for three days/week for 30 minutes/session at a moderate intensity estimated at 65% to 80% of their maximal exertion. Aerobic capacity (VO 2max ) and pulmonary lung function (FVC, FEV 1 , FEF 25-75% , PEF) were measured pre-, mid-, and post-eight weeks. Following the pre-testing, participants were randomly placed into one of two groups: (1) Chest Wall Restriction (CWR), or (2) a control group (Non-Chest Wall Restriction (NCWR)). The CWR Group performed the exercise sessions while wearing an elastic strap. Participants were encouraged to use a treadmill, elliptical machine, and/or stationary cycle in random order to complete the exercise session. Pulmonary lung function measures were not changed over the eight weeks for either group. At eight weeks, CWR and NCWR groups had significant increases in VO 2max (from 33.55 ± 6.48 to 37.78 ± 7.11 and 33.30 ± 10.39 to 35.99 ± 9.09 ml · min -1· kg -1 ± SD, respectively). However, a significant improvement of 11.0 ± 4.0% in aerobic capacity was observed in the experimental group at just four weeks compared to the control group (3.0 ± 6.0%, P < 0.05). These results suggest that the use of an externally applied thoracic constriction band during aerobic exercise assists in increasing aerobic capacity more rapidly than training without a band, because of the greater increase in VO 2max seen within the first four weeks for the CWR group compared to the NCWR group.