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So what exactly causes a side-stitch?
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 2005-07-29 3:12 PM |
Expert  1274    Jackson, Mississippi |  Subject: So what exactly causes a side-stitch?anyone? I've been getting them at the end of my long runs when I push myself. What are they? How do they happen? ws Edited by waskelton 2005-07-29 3:12 PM |
| 2005-07-29 3:14 PM in reply to: #211189 |
Extreme Veteran 456 Western Massachusetts | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? waskelton - 2005-07-29 4:12 PManyone?I've been getting them at the end of my long runs when I push myself. What are they? How do they happen?ws I believe you've discovered your lactic threshold. Gwendal |
| 2005-07-29 3:19 PM in reply to: #211192 |
Expert 1274 Jackson, Mississippi | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? Gwendal - 2005-07-29 3:14 PM waskelton - 2005-07-29 4:12 PManyone?I've been getting them at the end of my long runs when I push myself. What are they? How do they happen?ws I believe you've discovered your lactic threshold. Gwendal Really? I'd always thought that my LT was reached when I "felt the burn" is that not right? ws |
| 2005-07-29 3:30 PM in reply to: #211189 |
Extreme Veteran 360 Camarillo, California | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? it can be caused by drinking too much water or eating during or too close to the start of your run. Just try to fing an ideal breathing pattern. |
| 2005-07-29 3:35 PM in reply to: #211189 |
Expert 842 | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? I have no idea the science behind it but I think it can be a number of causes, drinking too much, drinking too little, erratic breathing (at least these are what causes cramps to me). I think a bigger question is why are you pushing at the end of your long runs. Do you just mean you are tired and have to push to finish or are you picking up the pace. Pushing the pace at the end of a long run runs a high risk of injury (I should know, I have done this more times than I care to admit). Anyway, sorry to go off topic and not answer the question but I just don't want to see anyone get hurt. Mark |
| 2005-07-29 3:40 PM in reply to: #211189 |
| Master 1315 Shreveport, LA | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? Will, I had them when I first started running. I have narrowed down to one of two things for me: Not being properly hydrated before my run OR My breathing pattern. I really fell it was the breathing pattern. My breathing patter now is: 2 quick breaths through my nose and then exhale through my mouth. It works for me, but maybe not for everyone. |
| 2005-07-29 3:47 PM in reply to: #211227 |
Expert 1274 Jackson, Mississippi | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? Stone - 2005-07-29 3:35 PM I have no idea the science behind it but I think it can be a number of causes, drinking too much, drinking too little, erratic breathing (at least these are what causes cramps to me). I think a bigger question is why are you pushing at the end of your long runs. Do you just mean you are tired and have to push to finish or are you picking up the pace. Pushing the pace at the end of a long run runs a high risk of injury (I should know, I have done this more times than I care to admit). Anyway, sorry to go off topic and not answer the question but I just don't want to see anyone get hurt. Mark I thought someone might bring this up.. I am picking up the pace a little.. It's no fartlek.. just an increase in pace. Sometimes it's because I feel like i want to pick up the pace.. sometimes it's because the Rocky theme comes on the headphones.. I know I probably shouldn't be doing it but most all of my runs are base runs so It gets boring after a while.. Thanks for the advice though.. I'll try and pay closer attention to what i'm doing.. ws |
| 2005-07-29 3:56 PM in reply to: #211219 |
Master 1889 Ann Arbor, MI | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? It happened to me this morning. Right after I had a long drink at the top of the hill and tried to overrun my legs going down the other side. I hate them. I rarely get them but they suck. |
| 2005-07-29 4:01 PM in reply to: #211189 |
Expert 1169 Charlottesville, VA | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? Basically, no one knows... Best you can hope for is to try to figure out what your triggers may be, and avoid them. For me, it's usually a bit too much to eat pre-exercise. Good luck! |
| 2005-07-29 4:19 PM in reply to: #211189 |
Expert 1166 Colchester, CT | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? Looks like it's a problem with your diaphragm http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/injuries/a/aa053100a.htm Chris |
| 2005-07-29 4:30 PM in reply to: #211189 |
Master 1359 South of SLC | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? I thought I had also read that even though it has been studied, the cause of a side stitch remains elusive. There seems to be several different causes and they are not uniform across any population that has been studied. Mike |
| 2005-07-29 4:35 PM in reply to: #211276 |
| Regular 61 Maine | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? I've been getting them almost everytime I run in the morning lately. I can't pinpoint the cause for me. It's usually right below my ribs and I have to stop and walk until it goes away because it's that painful. I get one and then it's over and I continue on w/no problems. |
| 2005-07-29 5:46 PM in reply to: #211189 |
| Extreme Veteran 573 IL | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? I had a physiology teacher who once told me he was convinced it was caused by O2 buildup. I don't know if it's true or not, but this has always helped me out when I get a side stitch... Take a shallow breath through the nose and then exhale out the mouth as much as you can. Try doing that like 10 times and see if it helps. Shallow in through nose, completely exhale out the mouth, repeat. |
| 2005-07-29 7:14 PM in reply to: #211336 |
Extreme Veteran 456 Western Massachusetts | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? dibujob - 2005-07-29 6:46 PM I had a physiology teacher who once told me he was convinced it was caused by O2 buildup. I don't know if it's true or not, but this has always helped me out when I get a side stitch... Take a shallow breath through the nose and then exhale out the mouth as much as you can. Try doing that like 10 times and see if it helps. Shallow in through nose, completely exhale out the mouth, repeat. At the very least, it gives you something to do while the cramp goes away. :-) Gwendal |
| 2005-07-29 8:51 PM in reply to: #211189 |
The Original 7834  Raleigh/Durham | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? I have been lucky that when I get them from running I am able to "run it off". What works for me is to extend my rib cage, meaning that I make sure that I am not hunched over. When you get tired it's easy to have bad form. Also, I swear by this tactic...if you get a cramp on your right side, make sure to let out a deep breath when the opposite foot (left foot) is out front hitting the pavement. I am not sure why this works (if it's due to developing a breathing pattern, or what) but it has helped me run through quite a few killer cramps! |
| 2005-07-29 8:57 PM in reply to: #211189 |
The Original 7834 Raleigh/Durham | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? Check out this previous thread- in case ya'll haven't read it. It's pretty funny! Now this is a good cure for side stitches! http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=19136&posts=14#s |
| 2005-07-30 5:55 PM in reply to: #211189 |
New user 29 COLORADO | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? I was told as a child that a side-stitch was caused when I didnt exhale all the air I inhaled. So when it happens to me i always focus on breathing out all the way. Just my 2 cents... ~B |
| 2005-07-30 8:49 PM in reply to: #211189 |
| Veteran 221 | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? Well for me it is in my form. I get them when I'm running hard and I start to break form. I begin to lean to one side. I compress that side, it tighens up and yada yada yada. |
| 2005-07-30 9:00 PM in reply to: #211189 |
Expert 1238 Denver, Colorado | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? Sweet, it's time to apply my physiology skills. A side stitch is a form of "referred pain," which means the problem is somewhere other than where you feel the pain. It's a funky neurological thing. In the case of a side-stitch, the problem is that your stomach is pulling on your diaphragm, causing a spasm. You should strengthen your abdominals, especially the deepest ones. The easiest way to engage the deep guys is to pull your belly-button toward your spine. When those muscles constrict they squeeze your stomach, so they could help give you support. Edited by skavoovie 2005-07-30 9:05 PM |
| 2005-07-30 10:59 PM in reply to: #211803 |
Expert 1274 Jackson, Mississippi | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? skavoovie - 2005-07-30 9:00 PM You should strengthen your abdominals, especially the deepest ones. The easiest way to engage the deep guys is to pull your belly-button toward your spine. When those muscles constrict they squeeze your stomach, so they could help give you support. That is a page straight out of my wife's pilates manual. (she's just been trained to be a pilates instructor) I guess some more pilates classes may help the problem.. |
| 2005-07-31 12:49 AM in reply to: #211189 |
Expert 1238 Denver, Colorado | Subject: RE: So what exactly causes a side-stitch? By the way, here are a couple tricks you can use during your runs when a side-stitch happens. If the stitch is on the right-hand side, you can try exhaling harder than usual when your left foot hits the ground. Do the opposite side if it's a left-hand stitch. Another thing that helps is pursing your lips when you breathe through them. I think both of these things are supposed to engage the abs by making you work harder to breathe, and they work well for me except for the worst side-stitches. -dave |
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