Abdominal Pain From Exercises
- Exercise-induced abdominal pain, commonly known as a "side stitch," is a condition that most commonly affects endurance athletes ranging from marathon participants to recreational joggers. The condition is characterized by sharp pain underneath the ribcage, usually occurring unilaterally, with the left side being most common.
- There are several competing theories about the origin of side stitches. One theory is that side stitches are spasms occurring in the diaphragm caused by improper breathing patterns during exercise. Another theory is that side stitches are caused by irradiation of the parietal peritoneum, which is the outer lining of the abdominal wall. Regardless of the reason behind side stitches, there are some steps you can take to make their occurrence less frequent.
- A May 2002 study found that increased training frequency correlated to a decreased risk of experiencing a side stitch. Thus, if you are a once-a-month trainee, you might want to bolster your overall frequency of training to reduce your chances of suffering this condition.
- In the same study, which was conducted on a total of 965 athletes, it was also found that both the intensity and the frequency of side stitches decreased with age. Additionally, body mass index and gender had absolutely no relevance to prevalence of side stitches, so losing weight is not a guarantee of safety.
- The website "The Stretching Institute" offers a number of preventative measures you can take to avoid suffering a side stitch. Always keep your mind on your breathing, aiming to breath as deeply as possible for your chosen activity. Furthermore, be sure to stay hydrated while training and also avoid eating too close to your training sessions. A gradual warm-up might also provide some measure of insulation against this painful condition.
