What Is A Side Stitch Due To?

There is no evidence that the side stitch indicates a health problem. However, this bothersome pain prevents us from continuing our physical activity normally. Science has yet to determine the exact cause behind this pain.

We’ve all had a side stitch before. This is a very unpleasant feeling that can appear during any kind of physical activity. This bothersome pain prevents us from continuing the activity in question normally and only disappears when we stop the activity.

Concretely, a side stitch is a sharp pain that affects one side of the body between the chest and the abdomen. Many people wonder if this pain indicates a health problem or an injury in the body. We reassure you right away, there is nothing to fear, even if the pain is sometimes very intense.

Until now, science is still unaware of the exact cause behind the side stitch. However, there are several theories to explain this unpleasant feeling. So keep reading to learn more about these theories.

What is a side stitch?

The side stitch is a sharp pain that affects one side of the abdominal area. This pain appears suddenly during the practice of a prolonged physical activity, thus preventing us from continuing normally the activity in question.

The medical term for the side stitch is “transient stress-related abdominal pain” (DATE). According to science, the appearance of a side stitch would be the consequence of the association of several factors or circumstances, and therefore would not be due to a single factor.

In general, the side stitch appears during the practice of a very energetic activity, in particular during the running. In the past, this pain was associated with having eaten before exercising, but the case of cyclists who eat during a race has discredited this theory.

What is a side stitch due to?

There is no definitive answer to this question. None of the available studies have been able to determine with sufficient confidence the definitive cause behind the sidelight. The most accepted theory considers that this pain is the consequence of continuous friction or tension in the ligaments that connect the diaphragm and the stomach. This friction irritates the peritoneum, the membrane that covers the abdominal cavity.

Another theory associates this sharp pain with poor breathing. When breathing is irregular and jerky, the body lacks oxygen and, as a result, the diaphragm contracts.

Finally, some studies indicate that sports that require a lot of energy in a short period of time, such as speed sports, promote the appearance of a sideline.

• Swimming : 75%
• Athletics : 69%
• Horse riding : 62%
• Aerobic exercise : 52%
• Basketball : 47%
• Cycling : 32%

Aggravating factors

Clinical experience has shown that  certain factors increase the risk of the appearance of this pain as well as its intensity, without being the cause at the origin of the sidelight.

These factors are:

• Eat and drink a lot before exercising
  • After eating or drinking a lot, the weight in the stomach is more important and, as a result, the movements of this organ increase, thus generating more friction with the diaphragm
• Stiffness and hypertonia
  • Athletes with excessively stiff stabilizing muscles in the spine tend to have side stitches
• Intense physical exercise
  • The more intense the exercise, the more the probability that a side stitch will appear.

The side stitch affects both men and women without distinction. It seems that younger people are the most prone to this problem. Conversely, in the elderly, this problem is less common.

Some information to take into consideration to prevent the appearance of a side stitch

Although science still does not know the exact causes of the sidelight, some measures have been shown to be effective in preventing the onset of this pain.

Here are some recommendations to consider:

• Eat a healthy diet, as digestive problems increase the likelihood of having a sidelight
• Avoid aggressive torso swings
• Breathe evenly and calmly
• Do not overeat before engaging in strenuous physical activity
• Drink small amounts of water several times during exercise, not drink large amounts at once

When this pain appears, the best thing to do is slow down the pace of sports activity while putting pressure on the pain with your hands. If the pain persists, come to a complete stop, regulate the rate of your breathing, and stretch the abdominal area.