The Scoop on Side Stitches Are They Dangerous?

Exercise can be a lot of fun.  You’re running along, feeling on top of the world and like you’re 10 years younger than you are when, suddenly, you can’t breathe and your side feels like it’s on fire.  This is called a side stitch and it’s a common problem with exercising.  Fortunately, you can get rid of this problem by adding some simple extra steps to your exercise program.

If you have a child in martial arts or boxing, go watch them exercise sometime.  You’ll notice that their teachers instruct them to exhale forcefully when they throw a punch or kick.  This is because proper exercise requires breathing control.  When you exercise, your diaphragm is moving up and down very quickly.  When it gets conflicted, such as when you inhale deeply from being winded and interrupt an exhale, the diaphragm pulls on your liver, causing the side stitch pain.

If you want to do away with this nuisance pain, you need to learn to breathe correctly as you exercise.  Make sure you exhale when you exert force, and breathe deeply when you exercise.   Breathe into your stomach and push the air out with your stomach muscles.  This coordinating breathing can virtually eliminate side stitches. 

If you keep having them, your exercise routine may be too intense.  Try to limit the amount of fluids you intake before and after exercise.  This may reduce the incidences of side stitches. 

To relieve a side stitch, bend over and touch your toes while breathing out.  Hold in position for five seconds.  This stretch will relax your diaphragm, relieving the side stitch.