|  | Conditions Treatments | Medical Conditions

About Abdominal Cramps With Exercise

Nearly everyone who has exercised has experienced undesired and unexplainable abdominal pain at some point. Although relatively harmless in a long-term sense, the transient discomfort suffered is usually sufficient to convince the individual to do whatever is necessary to avoid repeat incidents. Note that if you have been so afflicted, there are some simple steps that can be done to lower your risk of suffering through a repeat episode of this common condition.

  1. Cramping and Exercises Generally

    • According to a case report published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, abdominal cramping most often affects athletes involved in endurance activities such as marathon running, cycling, or distance swimming. According to the Stretching Institute, roughly 70 percent of regular joggers suffer exercise-induced abdominal pain.

    The Side Stitch

    • The official term for a side stitch is "exercise-related transient abdominal pain" (ETAP). Symptoms of the side stitch include frequent stabbing pain localized underneath the ribcage, most often reported on the right-hand side of the body. The side stitch is caused by a muscle spasm affecting the diaphragm.

    Warmups

    • Note that there is nothing inherently dangerous about a side stitch (aside from the discomfort). In essence, it is nothing more than a slight muscle strain. While there is no official "cure" for a side stitch, you can nevertheless reduce your risk of having one by properly warming up prior to training and focusing on relaxed and even breathing while you are in the midst of your exercise.

    Eating Habits

    • Improper eating habits prior to training can also increase your probability of suffering from a side stitch. Avoid eating heavy foods prior to engaging in endurance activities; instead, favor quickly digested carbohydrates instead of slower-digesting fats and proteins. In fact, if you know you have a large training session on the horizon, you might want to begin limiting your intake of heavy foods approximately a day before the event.

    Hydration

    • Improper hydration levels can also increase your risk of suffering abdominal discomfort while training. While exercising, you want to strike an appropriate balance by having sufficient fluids in your system and not overloading yourself to the point where you have a "sloshy" stomach. While individuals vary, a good general recommendation is to sip some water every 10 to 15 minutes while training.

Medical Conditions - Related Articles