Stitch like pain in right side
Have you ever experienced stitch like pain in right side? How often do you experience this discomfort? What are the associated symptoms with stitch like pain in right side?
Stitch like pain in right side also called as side cramp, side ache and medically termed as: muscle stitch or exercise- related transient abdominal pain (ETAP). This discomfort and pain is more often experienced by runners and swimmers and has a number of causes and risk factors related to it. Most of the causes can be rectified and are non-serious. This type of pain is sharp and stabbing and is often experienced in runners and mostly on the right side of abdomen than on left in older people and vice versa for the young. The pain varies from subject to subject and is described as sharp, stabbing or cramping when mild.
What can be the possible and probable cause, risk factors, and all other possible explanations that explain the cause of stitch like pain in right side and how to get rid of it and prevent it from occurring will be discussed in the article, continue reading the article below for more information:
Contents discussed:
Causes of stitch like pain in right side:
Despite of the full research on the side ache or stitch like pain in right side the causes described by the researchers are not hard fact based but anecdotal evidences. Some claim to relate exercise related transient abdominal pain with muscle cramps but it has been found that there is no electrical activity change when a person suffers from stitch like pain or exercise related transient abdominal pain. Some possible causes of stitch like pain in right side are as follows:
- Scoliosis/ posture: Posture or curvature of spine has been seen to be associated with stitch like pain in right side or exercise-related transient abdominal pain. Increased curvature of the spine is seen to be associated with stitch like pain in right side.
- Consumption of sweet beverages: Sugar or carbohydrate rich diet before exercise is seen to be associated with stitch like pain in right side.
- Starting the physical activity soon after eating meals: If the runners are full before the start of activity by a meal or snack, they have been seen to be increase the likelihood of stitch like pain in right side or exercise- related transient abdominal pain (ETAP).
- No warm up before starting the exercise/ temperature: Without a proper research basis of hard facts working out in cold environment or not doing a proper warm up before working out is seen to be associated with stitch like pain in right side.
- Shallow breathing not deep: Doing intense exercise or nor breathing well during the exercise has been seen to be associated with stitch like pain in right side.
- Age: Young age experience more stitch like pain in right side than older ones. But since the older people have sedentary life styles and less activity level this might be the cause of the difference.
Risk factors of stitch like pain in right side:
Age: Age is a risk factor for younger individuals than older i.e., the younger individuals has more likelihood of developing stitch like pain in right side than older individuals. Even if the older individuals experience it, the severity less than the younger ones.
Having meals or drinking before doing the exercise: Runners who eat or drink before any activity have high or increased likelihood of developing stitch like pain in right side than those who do not eat or drink. Some specific foods like high in fat or sugars and some fruits and dairy food products are more associated with this experience of stitch like feeling in right side.
Poor fitness level: People who newly introduce themselves to the activity and sports may experience stitch like feeling in right side or side ache. So introduce yourself to daily exercises that help you with breathing with the help of belly to get more oxygen.
High intensity of exercise: Even if you are a practiced person and used to high level activities and running you may experience stitch like pain in right side especially when there has been no warm up before starting the activity.
Running or doing exercise in a cold environment: Running or doing exercise in a cold environment can produce spasms in diaphragm making it difficult to breathe deeply and shallow breathing in turn leading to muscle cramps and stitch like pain in right side.
Without a proper warm up: Warming up before exercise helps your body get enough oxygen and increase the blood flow to muscles and preventing the feeling of stitch pain in runners or anyone performing any physical activity.
Theories explaining the cause:
Since there are no proper reasons to explain the causes by the researches and all of it has no hard fact data but a hearsay so there are some theories that may explain the causes:
Diet: Researches have found that the type and timing of meal the person consumes before or during exercise is more influencing than the volume of food. The carbohydrate rich diet or drinks before the exercise or during it is seen to be more associated with stitch like feeling in the right side. It has been seen that the people consuming low carbohydrate or simple water are less likely to experience stitch like pain in right side.
Physiology: The cause of stitch like pain in the right side cannot be always attributed to the exercise itself but to the repetitive movements in certain exercises where the torso of body is extended repeatedly and certain structures associated come under the stress and result in spasms creating a feeling of pain.
The structures affected are:
Diaphragm
Lumbar spine
Parietal peritoneum
Peritoneal ligaments
The repeated movements can cause stretch, friction, and inflammation in the structures and nerves and cause stitch like pain in the right side.
How to stop the pain or treatment?
Following the sequence of below mentioned steps can definitely help anyone to get rid of the stitch like feeling in right side. If not all, even one may help and even practicing any of it is not harmful as well.
- Gently pushing with your fingers can help you to relieve the pain in the area, if not completely eliminating it.
- Start taking deep breaths and stop taking shallow breaths. Taking deep breaths will help to the diaphragm to descend to good extent and helping you breathe deeply. Even holding the breath for few seconds and then doing a forceful expiration through pursed lips is considered helpful.
- Stretching the affected area and leaning towards the opposite side can help your muscles get relaxed in the affected area.
- Even when nothing works, lowering down the activity level to a slower pace and starting to take deep breaths can definitely help you get rid of the stitch like pain in right side and then resuming your level of activity as soon as the pain and discomfort goes away.
The stitch like pain usually goes away as soon as you slow down or stop the activity but if the pain persisted you may need to see a doctor.
Prevention
Prevention is better than suffering from the discomfort of stitch pain. There are a number of ways to prevent the stitch like pain in right side and it includes:
- Normalize taking fluids during the exercise or running but in limited quantity
- To avoid taking high sugar or carbohydrate drinks during or before exercise
- Do not eat two hours prior to exercise or running or some high intensity work-out
- Try to improve the overall body strength or energy by exercising on daily basis
- Try to improve the posture and running in a proper form will help to prevent this.
- Try to take deep breaths during exercise and take breaths from the nose and from the belly and not chest centered to take more air in.
- Doing a good warm-up before doing the exercise like doing some stretches or a little jog can help increase the blood flow to muscles
- Wear clothes according to the weather like wearing a neck scarf and wrap it slightly around your nose and mouth and try to breathe through it.
Takeaway
Stitch like pain in right side is a common issue among young runners and athletes and people who perform high intensity work-outs and is not life threatening but very discomforting and painful as the pain starts gradually and ends up being severe. There can be certain formulas that can be followed to avoid experiencing this stitch ache or stitch like pain in right side but should be definitely followed to avoid experiencing such discomfort and pain. All of the steps and formulas are mentioned in the prevention section above following those can definitely help you get a sigh of relief and a sigh literally is helpful in the pattern of exercise :D