Introduction: Core stability is key to moving effectively and preventing spinal injuries, with the deep abdominal muscles, especially the transverse abdominis muscle, playing a central role. Their activation is closely related to breathing, as different ways of exhaling affect intra-abdominal pressure and, consequently, trunk stabilization. Despite numerous studies on the activation of deep abdominal muscles during exercise, the influence of specific breathing strategies on their activity remains understudied. Purpose: To determine how different exhalation methods affect the electrical potential of the deep abdominal muscles. Methods: The study included 20 healthy female subjects aged between 20 and 25 years who met the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Deep abdominal muscle activation was measured using surface electromyography of the transversus abdominis muscle during different exhalation patterns in a supine position. Measurements were performed in a single visit following a standardized breathing rhythm, and the data obtained were normalized and statistically processed using nonparametric tests. Results: The results showed statistically significant differences in the electrical potential of the deep abdominal muscles between different exhalation methods (p < 0.05). The highest values were recorded during voluntary activation of the abdominal muscles during exhalation (tightening the waist and pulling the navel in as far as possible), and the lowest during passive and phonatory exhalations. Exhalation with phonation Š was functionally more similar to exhalation through the nose than to exhalation with lip support. Pairwise comparisons showed statistically significant differences, especially between voluntary and passive and phonatory modes of exhalation, with large effect sizes (|d| ≥ 0.8). Discussion and conclusion: Different ways of exhaling and voluntary activation of the abdominal muscles affect the functioning of the deep abdominal muscles and stabilization of the torso. Voluntary activation promotes more coordinated functioning of the core muscles and stabilizing muscles, which contributes to better body control and controlled movement. New insights into exhalation methods can contribute to the design of rehabilitation and physical exercise programs. In the future, it would be useful to expand the research to a broader and more diverse sample and include individuals with different musculoskeletal problems to better evaluate the long-term effects and clinical applicability of the findings.
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