Running - Why the sudden Side Aches?
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Running - Why the sudden Side Aches?
| Mon, 08-07-2006 - 1:24am |
could somebody help me out?? I have been running for about 2 years - had to stop for a while because I was pregnant - and now that I am back at running ( average 4-6 miles) I suddenly get side aches - never had this problem before and it is quite painful.... Any tips on how to get rid of them?

~IslandGirl
School's out for summer!
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I've been running about all my life, and one thing I leaned in junior high has stuck with me. Try breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. That is supposed to help with any cramping. It will be very difficult to do at first and you'll feel like you're not getting enough air in, but believe it or not, you actually breathe in more oxygen that way. After a couple of weeks, it will become second nature. I have been doing it that way since I was 13 and can count the number of times I've had side or tummy cramping on one hand since then (I'm 33 now).
Good luck!
Wendy
It sounds like you are describing a side stitch - here's some info I found:
Stopping a Side Stitch
To stop a side stitch when running, stop running and place your hand into the right side of your belly and push up, lifting the liver slightly. Inhale and exhale evenly as you push up.
Preventing a Side Stitch
To prevent a side stitch, take even, deep breaths while running. Shallow breathing tends to increase the risk of cramping because the diaphragm is always slightly raised and never lowers far enough to allow the ligaments to relax. When this happens the diaphragm becomes stressed and a spasm or "stitch" is more likely.
Some other ways to alleviate the pain of a side stitch include: