When you're in stitches

You are running on the gym treadmill, or playing a pickup game of basketball, when all of a sudden you get a stitch in your side. "A stitch" is a nice way of describing a painful stabbing feeling under your rib cage either on your right or left side. The most common explanation is that it's a spasm of your diaphragm muscle. Most of us stop what we are doing and wait for the pain to stop. While you're standing there, think about the possible causes.

Did you eat right before working out? Having food in your stomach can trigger a stitch. Wait a few hours after eating before a vigorous workout.

Breathe deeply. It won't feel great during the first few breaths, but after awhile it will ease up. And massage the area to help the stitch go away soon.

Did you drink enough water? If you have a stitch the answer is probably no.

Did you do enough stretching exercises before you began? Stretching helps prevent injuries and other muscle spasms in addition to stitches.

January 19, 2002

If you have a medical mystery for the sleuths at Sound Medicine, email it to: soundmed@iu.edu. Or call us at 317-274-IU4U (317-274-4848).