Why Do I Get a Sharp Pain in My Side When I'm Jogging?
A sharp pain in your side during jogging isn't cause for concern, though it is unpleasant. Also called side stitches or Exercise-Related Transient Abdominal Pain (ETAP), the sensation isn't unique to joggers. Swimmers and horse riders are among many athletes who experience them.
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Effects
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The pain can be in either side, though it is a little more common on the right side. It usually is a sharp, stabbing sensation around the lower ribs.
Cause
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The pain is caused by the diaphragm, the muscle between the chest and abdominal areas. It moves down when you inhale and up when you exhale. The pain is more common on the right because of friction between the liver and diaphragm.
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Considerations
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Eat and drink only a small amount before exercise. A full stomach can exacerbate side stitches.
Treatment
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Vary exhalations to coincide with the foot on the side opposite your stitch touching the ground. For example, if the pain is on the right, exhale as your left foot strikes the ground. This reduces friction between the diaphragm and surrounding organs.
Other Options
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Use one hand to apply pressure on the painful area. This will reduce the internal friction.
Also, try diaphragmatic breathing. Also known as belly breathing, it involves breathing into the abdominal cavity. If you still have pain, slow to a walk until the stitch subsides, then begin running with the alternate-exhalation pattern.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Gordana Adamovic-Mladenovic
