What Happens in Your Abdomen When You Breathe?

Breathing is something simple and automatic that we do all the time without thinking. However, what many people do not realize is that breathing also plays an important role in body stability, posture, abdominal function, pelvic floor function, and the regulation of intra-abdominal pressure.

This means that during daily activities such as climbing stairs, carrying weight, coughing, or changing positions, the abdominal muscles, respiratory diaphragm, spine, and pelvis must work together to maintain balance, stability, and body control.

A recent study published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports demonstrated how different breathing patterns and body positions can alter abdominal muscle activation and intra-abdominal pressure. These findings help explain why breathing is so important during physical exercise, physical effort, and even postural control.

When we inhale, the diaphragm—the primary muscle responsible for breathing—moves downward to allow air into the lungs. This movement naturally increases pressure inside the abdomen. At the same time, muscles such as the deep abdominal muscles, the lateral trunk muscles, and the pelvic floor work together to help control this pressure and stabilize the body. This is one of the reasons why stability training, Pilates, functional training, and abdominal strengthening exercises place so much emphasis on breathing techniques.

The study also observed that during exercise, physical effort, or more intense breathing, the abdominal muscles need to work harder to assist with the control of intra-abdominal pressure and body stability. This helps explain why many people instinctively hold their breath when lifting weights or performing difficult exercises—the body attempts to increase stability through intra-abdominal pressure.

The study also observed that during exercise, physical effort, or more intense breathing, the abdominal muscles need to work harder to assist with the control of intra-abdominal pressure and body stability. This helps explain why many people instinctively hold their breath when lifting weights or performing difficult exercises—the body attempts to increase stability through intra-abdominal pressure.

For this reason, breathing alterations can influence posture, abdominal control, and even the way the body handles physical effort. Breathing does not happen separately from movement—the entire body participates in the process. Learning to breathe in a more coordinated way during movement may help the body function more efficiently and with better balance.

Scientific Reference

Kawabata, M., & Shim, N. (2023). Interaction of breathing pattern and posture on abdominal muscle activation and intra-abdominal pressure in healthy individuals: A comparative cross-sectional study. Scientific Reports, July 2023.

Written by Physiotherapist Marília Monteiro – CREFITO 129693-F

Translated by Aline Marques de Castro – CREFITO 175170-F, with AI-assisted support from ChatGPT (OpenAI).