Recurring "Side Stitches" -- Anyone Have Experience?

For me, it was what I ate before racing. What is his usual pre race meal?

My understanding is that this is caused by a spasm/cramp/twisting of the diaphragm. If you purse your lips and breathe out with a fair amount of pressure, it results in pushing down on your diaphragm and can help relieve the stitch. It has worked with moderate but not perfect success for me and others in the past.

Snoove is correct. Focus on a looooooong exhale for a few strides and it should go away. Mostly you just stop getting them when you get in decent shape. Diaphragm is a muscle too and it needs training as well.

I had an issue with a slipping rib. It would cause horrible pain on the right side. I found that stem theropy helped me a ton.

Thanks for the replies. I will have him try the exhales and see if that helps (if they continue).

As for the slipping rib -- how would one check for that?

CTXCCoach wrote:

Thanks for the replies. I will have him try the exhales and see if that helps (if they continue).

As for the slipping rib -- how would one check for that?

I used to get s lot of stitches in morning races. Usually for a bad stitch I'd have to stop lean forward and squeeze side while doing the exhale. Keeping going and breathing didn't work usually for me. Of courses you loose time.

On reason I got them was probably not drinking enough water in morning as you get dehydrated during night - especially as thought the opposite so was having less.

I never really get to run well in the morning apart from a couple of races. Once you get a stitch you are more prone to get it in next couple of days as it becomes sore.

Some runners eat no breakfast

This is something like asking for a cure for hiccups, but I believe I have found THE answer:

Teach him to train in a 3-2 pattern: inhale for 3 strides, exhale for 2. That way, he isn't exhaling on the same foot every time. I honestly believe this has something to do with these oblique cramps.

Good luck.

I went to a sports dr specifically for the cramping issue. He had me get on the treadmill and run hard till I got the cramp to start. The then felt around the area. He curled his finger around the rib in question and he was able to manipulate it. He said it wasn't suposed to have anywhere near the range of movement it had.

Thank you for the info on the ribs; we will keep that in mind moving forward. If the breathing exercises don't work, we might have to check in with a sports doctor.

thejeff wrote:

This is something like asking for a cure for hiccups, but I believe I have found THE answer:

Teach him to train in a 3-2 pattern: inhale for 3 strides, exhale for 2. That way, he isn't exhaling on the same foot every time. I honestly believe this has something to do with these oblique cramps.

Good luck.

That's right, completely inhale and fairy the steps tempo to begin the exhale on a different step.

Fogrunr wrote:

thejeff wrote:

This is something like asking for a cure for hiccups, but I believe I have found THE answer:

Teach him to train in a 3-2 pattern: inhale for 3 strides, exhale for 2. That way, he isn't exhaling on the same foot every time. I honestly believe this has something to do with these oblique cramps.

Good luck.

That's right, completely inhale and fairy the steps tempo to begin the exhale on a different step.

☆ Of course I meant VARY the steps tempo ☆

I used to get side stitches all the time running in elementary and middle school, and sometimes even during sports. Around middle school to high school, I started doing tons of abs, stairs and some air boxing because of social aspirations and social pressure. As I grew up I only increased the amount of muscular conditioning.

I think many young high school runners could use core training. You can hear weight lifting gurus stressing Core stability all the time, I'm sure it should be taken seriously for running as well. Running can be very uncomfortable in many ways and part of becoming better is to have tools to deal with the forces in running.

He could also be without her kisses like Shawn Mendes

thejeff wrote:

This is something like asking for a cure for hiccups, but I believe I have found THE answer:

Teach him to train in a 3-2 pattern: inhale for 3 strides, exhale for 2. That way, he isn't exhaling on the same foot every time. I honestly believe this has something to do with these oblique cramps.

Good luck.

I used to have a lot of trouble with stitches. As opposed to the above, I found that exhaling consistently when my left foot hit the ground would prevent it or stop it when I felt it coming on. I would get the stitches on the right side so I exhale on the left foot strike. I guess experiment to see if one of these solutions work for your runner.

Left wrote:

thejeff wrote:

This is something like asking for a cure for hiccups, but I believe I have found THE answer:

Teach him to train in a 3-2 pattern: inhale for 3 strides, exhale for 2. That way, he isn't exhaling on the same foot every time. I honestly believe this has something to do with these oblique cramps.

Good luck.

I used to have a lot of trouble with stitches. As opposed to the above, I found that exhaling consistently when my left foot hit the ground would prevent it or stop it when I felt it coming on. I would get the stitches on the right side so I exhale on the left foot strike. I guess experiment to see if one of these solutions work for your runner.

If that is the case, then we are somewhat in agreement, at least regarding the cause. I will try your way.