Videojug

How To Deal With A Stitch

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  • Videojug
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How To Deal With A Stitch

Banish the pain of sudden cramps quickly by following VideoJug's advice on how to deal with a stitch. Use our expert advice to deal with this common side effect of physical exertion. Banish the pain of sudden cramps quickly by following VideoJug's advice on how to deal with a stitch. Use our expert advice to deal with this common side effect of physical exertion.

Step 1: Remain calm

Sit down and try and get to remain to calm.

Step 2: Get breathing under control

If you try to focus on controlling your breathing, it will help you to relax and possible ease the muscle pain.

Step 3: Try the counting method

Begin by breathing in and out slowly. One way of helping you to do this is to breathe in and out on your count. Counting silently, breathe in for 2 and then out for 2, gradually increase the count to 4 and then 6 if possible until you're breathing has slowed down and the pain eased.

If the pain does not subside within a few minutes seek medical advice.

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Tips & Comments
  1. Lepus

    It was my understanding that a stitch results from either your stomach (left side) or liver (right side) tugging at its supporting structures and your diaphragm. Thus, there are a couple of things you can do to help a stitch: 1) Don't eat or drink too much before running. It will make your stomach heavier and thus more likely to cause a stitch. 2) Adjust your technique so you aren't bouncing, and run at a smoother rhythm. In my moderate experience of running, stitches are best ignored. Just focus on your breathing and adjust your rhythm but carry on.

  2. susi02

    touch ur toes 4 10 secs it really really works!!

  3. Charlii

    Push On The Area And Massage The Cramp, To Maintain Bloodflow. Don't Sit Down Unless You Find It Hard To Breathe, Beacuse By Carrying On Running, You Are Keeping Your Heart Pumping Fast, And That Will Make Recovery Fast, As Oxygen Will Be Reaching The Cramp. Now Come On, I'm Only 12 Years Old, And At School, They Would Make You Do Another Lap Of The Track If You Complained!

  4. Anonymous

    Alternate the foot at which you breathe on. There is a medical reason something to do with on the left (or right cant remember) there is a organ that puts pressure on the lungs and muscles as you try and breath. Also never stop if you can help if but if you have to stand up tall

  5. Anonymous

    I stop, sit down if possible, and take inhale and exhale until the pain slowly dies away and I feel much better and calmer. sufferer

  6. Anonymous

    Thanks for the tips

  7. Anonymous

    Dont sit down! You need to keep moving to get the oxygen pumping to the area being affected

  8. QI

    You can't stop running in the middle of a race!! Push on the area, keep running.

  9. bug

    Just switch feet and keep on running...

  10. bug

    Just switch feet and keep on running...