Side Stitch. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Phaenx · 04-16-2004, 12:26 PM

I've been getting side stitches consistantly for the past week or so during my workouts. I have enough medical problems working against me already, so I can't have this continuing to be a nuisance.

How do I get rid of a side stitch? What triggers them? What exactly are they?

Help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

Nazggul · 04-16-2004, 12:38 PM

http://www.runnersworld.com/home/0,1...e=RunnersWorld

Quote:

Runners World

Definition:
A sharp pain usually felt just below the rib cage (though sometimes farther up the torso), caused by a cramp in the diaphragm, gas in the intestines or food in the stomach. Stitches normally come on during hard workouts or races.

Remedies:
If you get a stitch on your right side (which is more common),
slow down for 30 seconds or so and exhale forcefully each time your left foot hits the ground. If the stitch is on the left, exhale hard when your right foot lands. Continue until pain recedes. If this doesn't help, try slow, deep "belly breathing" (your abdomen should go in and out with each breath). Or run with your hands on top of your head and your elbows back while you breathe deeply from your belly.

Another remedy is to take your fist and dig it under your ribcage, push the fist in with your other arm and bend your torso over almost to 90 degrees. Run like this for 10 steps. This stretches the diaphragm, and most stitches are caused by a spasm of the diaphragm. If none of these techniques work, stop and walk until the pain subsides.

And here's a no-brainer: to prevent stitches caused by food in the stomach, don't eat before you run.

Phaenx · 04-16-2004, 12:55 PM

Shouldn't be food, I don't eat anything before I do cardio. Thanks, I'll try that out next time.

Stompy · 04-16-2004, 02:07 PM

I was reading up on this a while ago, and there are different kinds, but there's one in particular that only occurs on the right side .. those you can't do anything about except take it easy until it wears off or just kinda tough it out.

They go away naturally as you get more used to working out, but there's no explanation/remedy for them.

thingstodo · 04-17-2004, 07:58 AM

I've heard from several folks that a lot of this is related to your breathing. When I've had them before, I tried to breathe deep and slow. I don't know if that is what worked or I was just focusing in a sort of meditative state, but it worked!

Schwan · 04-17-2004, 08:08 AM

Sometimes I get these during cardio. Drinking some water always helps.

jazz · 04-17-2004, 10:19 AM

I usually get those pains when I first start running. A trick I have learned that works is to inhale for a slow count of two and then exhale for a slow count of two. I do this for a few minutes and the pain seems to subside.

Sparhawk · 04-17-2004, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nazggul
Another remedy is to take your fist and dig it under your ribcage, push the fist in with your other arm and bend your torso over almost to 90 degrees. Run like this for 10 steps. This stretches the diaphragm, and most stitches are caused by a spasm of the diaphragm.

How the hell am I supposed to run like this? heh...

rollo · 04-19-2004, 01:51 PM

what works for me is to simply slow down; 50 meters or so of slow jogging gets rid of most stitches...also, i find that drinking copious amounts of water tends to trigger stitches....

Nazggul · 04-19-2004, 01:54 PM

I've also hear that this is related to breathing. I have no information to support it however. I do find that when I've hd them in the past slowing the pace a bit and breathing deeply can resolve it. Correlation does not imply causation however. =) It may just be that slowing the pace resolved it. Who knows.

04-16-2004, 12:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	Side Stitch. I've been getting side stitches consistantly for the past week or so during my workouts. I have enough medical problems working against me already, so I can't have this continuing to be a nuisance. How do I get rid of a side stitch? What triggers them? What exactly are they? Help would be appreciated, thanks in advance. __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

04-16-2004, 12:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	Shouldn't be food, I don't eat anything before I do cardio. Thanks, I'll try that out next time. __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

04-16-2004, 02:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Stompy Banned from being Banned Location: Donkey	I was reading up on this a while ago, and there are different kinds, but there's one in particular that only occurs on the right side .. those you can't do anything about except take it easy until it wears off or just kinda tough it out. They go away naturally as you get more used to working out, but there's no explanation/remedy for them. __________________ I love lamp.

04-17-2004, 07:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	I've heard from several folks that a lot of this is related to your breathing. When I've had them before, I tried to breathe deep and slow. I don't know if that is what worked or I was just focusing in a sort of meditative state, but it worked! __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.

04-17-2004, 10:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
jazz Upright	I usually get those pains when I first start running. A trick I have learned that works is to inhale for a slow count of two and then exhale for a slow count of two. I do this for a few minutes and the pain seems to subside. __________________ "Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives." -Michael Dermott

04-17-2004, 08:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
Schwan A boy and his dog Location: EU!	Sometimes I get these during cardio. Drinking some water always helps.

04-19-2004, 01:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
rollo Upright Location: Canada	what works for me is to simply slow down; 50 meters or so of slow jogging gets rid of most stitches...also, i find that drinking copious amounts of water tends to trigger stitches.... __________________ -sanity is not statistical-

04-19-2004, 01:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Nazggul Psycho Location: San Francisco	I've also hear that this is related to breathing. I have no information to support it however. I do find that when I've hd them in the past slowing the pace a bit and breathing deeply can resolve it. Correlation does not imply causation however. =) It may just be that slowing the pace resolved it. Who knows. __________________ "If something has to give then it always will." -- Editors