• Question: Why do we get a stitch in our stomachs after doing a lot of exercise?

    Asked by 478sprg52 to Andrew, Dan, Emilia, Helen, Katy, LauraAnne, Stephanie on 7 Nov 2016.
    • Photo: Katy Griggs

      Katy Griggs answered on 7 Nov 2016:

      Great question. My honest answer is no one really knows. There are a couple of theories – abdominal pain may be caused by the internal organs pulling downwards on the diaphragm, high internal pressure in the liver or spleen restricts blood flow causing hypoxia or an imbalance of electrolytes (eg, calcium, potassium and sodium).

    • Photo: Andrew Willis

      Andrew Willis answered on 7 Nov 2016:

      I would have to agree with Katy. As an athlete I would try to make sure I take on enough fluid and electrolytes during a training session. I find sometimes controlling my breathing helps as I have been told before lactate acid build up can cause a stitch due to lack of oxygen.

    • Photo: LauraAnne Furlong

      LauraAnne Furlong answered on 9 Nov 2016:

      I’d agree that we still don’t really know the answer to this one but there’s a few possible reasons. Stitches are cramps in your diaphragm – this is a big muscle under your lungs which is very important in breathing.

      One reason is that when we exercise, blood moves to the working muscles and so this leaves the diaphragm weak as it has less blood to work with – that is why controlling your breathing would be helpful. Another reason could be that poor digestion results in the muscles above your stomach pulling on the diaphragm which again would cause pain, and that’s partly why eating 2 hours before exercise is recommended, to allow digestion to occur.

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