Side Cramps - WHO HAS THEM FIGURED OUT????

only pussies get side cramps.

it's all in your head.

2:20 marathoner wrote:

only pussies get side cramps.

it's all in your head.

only insecure posers put their marathon time in their screen name - you're the guy at the office ALWAYS talking about running aren't you? douche

The only thing you can do is run through it hard, and it will subside in 5 minutes. 5 minutes of pure agony.

Hall of Mirrors wrote:

Does anybody out there really know their stuff when it comes to side cramps?

Call me ignorent, but I've heard the following as causes of side cramping:

-being dehydrated (not enough water)

-too much water

-too much food in system

-not enough food in system

-not enough core work

-too much core work (soreness)

-nerves

I realize all these could be true, but what is the best advise? Every once in a while, I get the mother of all side cramps in a race and absolutly can not put my finger on why.

Will enough core work take care of it (barring being really stupid with eating right before running etc.)?

Any advise/experience is welcome, thanks!!!

Side cramps go away the more fit you become, really they are just a sign of being out of shape. But until then, breathe in when you land on the foot side that has the cramp and out on the other side.

its actually your organs being shaken out of place. this is why it feels better when you push on them.

I don't know what the hell they are, but I notice them when I am dehydrated. This might be junk science, but I always just breathe deeper and inhale/exhale when I land on the foot opposite to the cramp. It works like a charm for me, but perhaps it is the placebo effect. They never last too long.

fsdfsf wrote:

its actually your organs being shaken out of place. this is why it feels better when you push on them.

I've heard this too - so you're at higher risk w/ jerky movements which could explain when they might come about during races with an inadequite warmup (body is jolted into a fast pace).

.truth wrote:

Side cramps go away the more fit you become, really they are just a sign of being out of shape. But until then, breathe in when you land on the foot side that has the cramp and out on the other side.

Wrong. Plus, if you're breathing in with one foot and then out with the other, depending on how fast you run, you'd pass out from hyperventilation. Unless you're race-walking. In which case, maybe you would get cramps from being out of shape.

Mrs. Masterbooner wrote:

.truth wrote:

Side cramps go away the more fit you become, really they are just a sign of being out of shape. But until then, breathe in when you land on the foot side that has the cramp and out on the other side.

Wrong. Plus, if you're breathing in with one foot and then out with the other, depending on how fast you run, you'd pass out from hyperventilation. Unless you're race-walking. In which case, maybe you would get cramps from being out of shape.

Every other step or every 3 steps...

Eating too much food before I run is definitely the major cause of side stitches for me. But beyond that I have no idea what causes them for me. Sometimes I get them for no apparent reason. Lack of fitness is not the problem

Hall of Mirrors wrote:

only insecure posers put their marathon time in their screen name - you're the guy at the office ALWAYS talking about running aren't you? douche

Boy! You told him off. The side stitch will stop happening as you become more fit. When it used to happen to me, I'd stop and take very deep breathes. Hold the breathes as you inhale. A couple of those and I was good to go. It's a diaphragm problem.

Learn to breath with your diaphragm. Downward pressure from the diaphragm holds your organs in place as well as efficiently expanding your chest cavity to draw air in.

Learn this and you will never experience another side stitch.

this poster has it right. it's a diaphragm problem that usually occurs from poor breathing technique which often comes from being out of shape (and to a lesser extent being nervous). these are shallow and quick breaths...go watch a fat person run around a track and you'll see what i'm talking about. i usually get the cramps when I train at altitude.

I experienced side cramps during my first marathon and I was extremely fit so idk if the statement that you get side stitches because you're out of shape holds any water...the reason I cramped up was from drinking out of a dixie cup instead of a water bottle...too much air got into my stomach...which pushed in on my diaphram...which pulled my connective tissue taught...which pulled some organs up

...I didn't now any better so I stopped running and just drove my fingers into my abdomen where it hurt and I was ok to run again for a while but had to stop and repeat the procedure before finishing

...after the race I looked up some things on how to get rid of them without stopping...exhaling on the opposite side of the stitch while pursing your lips just as your foot impacts the ground (if left side has a stitch exhale as your right foot hits the ground)it puts less stress on the side with the stitch and eventually it will go away (this is the only one of the methods that worked for me)

do not take the advice of the poster that said just to run through it...that can cause some longer lasting issues and it will not go away

Hall of Mirrors wrote:

Call me ignorent

I'd actually call you ignorant.

I used to experience severe side cramps when running xc (especially after long downhills). What worked for me is controlling my breathing. I try and breathe out on my left foot every 4 steps (left because my cramps usually occur on the left side). So its breathe(step), step, step, step, breathe(step), etc.

check this website out

http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/side-stitches.html

Lack of Vitamins and minerals in your body I believe is a cause along with being dehydrated and in consistant breathing is a cause of them. I have been taking potassium supps. and magnesium supps. which I have found to help a little along with drinking adequate water. I heard cramps on the left is just caused from eating too much too early before a run.

side cramps are caused by your diaphragm ligaments being stretched out too much, like when your bouncing and breathing hard your at risk. having a strong core is good but having a flexible stomach muscle is the answer

Do a situp once in a while. A side stitch is caused by your diaphragm spazzing out. It's called referred pain, meaning you don't feel it in the location of the problem. If you strengthen your abs you'll be able to support your nasty diaphragm better.