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by Drublic on February 5th, 2007

Drublic

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What causes a "stitch" in your side during exercise?

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  • by canadianhelper on February 5th, 2007

    canadianhelper

    What Your Symptom Is Telling You

    You're running a 10-K or dashing to catch the bus when all at once your side feels as if it's caught in a giant lobster's claw.

    Anyone who pumps their legs fast while breathing rapidly can get caught in the clenches of a side stitch. A side stitch is usually a cramp in the diaphragm—the large muscle located between your lungs and abdomen that controls breathing. It's often caused when the diaphragm isn't getting enough blood during exercise. Here's how it happens.

    Pumping your legs increases the pressure on your abdominal muscles, which press up against the diaphragm. At the same time, rapid breathing expands your lungs, which press down on the diaphragm. The dual pinching from above and below shuts off the flow of blood and oxygen to the diaphragm.

    Without enough oxygen, muscles will go into painful spasms, according to Mona Shangold, M.D., director of the Sports Gynecology and Women's Life Cycle Center at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia and coauthor of The Complete Sports Medicine Book for Women.

    Those who are new to exercise are most prone to side stitches. Beginners are more apt to take rapid, shallow breaths and may also push themselves before their abdominal muscles are ready to deal with the exertion. These muscles may not be strong enough to protect against the bouncing that jostles internal organs and pulls on the diaphragm.

    It's also possible that food itself may add to the diaphragm's distress. A meal of less digestible, fatty food before exercising will make the stomach heavier and increase the tugging on the diaphragm.

    A side stitch can sometimes be felt all the way up to the shoulder. But this kind of pain may signal a heart attack, especially if it persists after you've spent a few minutes stretching. And if you get a side stitch each time you exercise, you could have a problem with blood flow to the intestine.

    http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/16/191.cfm

    More info:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side_stitch

    There are more theories regarding ETAP than merely stretching of the visceral ligaments due to repeated vertical translation and jolting. Other theories include:

    1. Diaphragmatic Ischemia
    2. Imbalances of the thoracic spine
    3. Irritation of the parietal peritoneum

    http://www.hhp.ufl.edu/faculty/pbird/keepingfit/ARTICLE/stitch.HTM

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