Side stitches

[bobadoo]

Last night while doing Interval Max I got a stitch in my side right under the right rib which made me have to stop and start again a few times.

I used to get these pains a lot when I was younger but not so much lately and I was wondering if anyone knows why this happens?

I read once that they happen when you exercise without proper hydration but I don't know how true that is.

If anyone has any information I'd appreciate it so I can stop whatever I'm doing wrong that made my "younger days" stitch come back to haunt me last night!

Thanks!

 

[kotacam]

You know, I did Imax this morning, and I got a stitch in the right side too! I kept on going, though. I think it was somewhere around intervals 3-4? can't remember too well. I took last week off (I take one week off after every 12 weeks so as not to overtrain), so I hadn't done Imax in about 2 weeks. I thought that might have been my problem. I never had the stitch during Imax before then.

Anyway, I did know the cause for these at one time but forgot. I did drink about 1/2 quart of water before I started. I always put the water bottle where I can reach it during the recovery while we're walking back and forth. I

 

[kotacam]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Aug-06-02 AT 04:41PM (Est)[/font][p]Ugh! double post! Sorry!

 

[jillybean]

I have heard that side stitches are caused from not breathing deeply enough, or by drinking/eating too much before a workout. Not sure if it's true however...

 

[Andrea]

bobadoo and kodacam

bobadoo-I find I get them if I eat or drink too close to exercising time.

kodacam-Do you find taking a week off every 12 weeks affects your cardio level at all? When you start back, do you feel the same as before your break?

Andrea

 

[naughtoj]

RE: bobadoo and kodacam

Again, my Covert Bailey book says that they will go away as you get more fit, insinuating that it is from a condition you get when your aerobic capacity is challenged. Maybe because when you do IMAX you are working very hard, harder than normal. I know when I was more out of shape I got side stitches more often. Maybe that is why you only get them during IMAX?? Maybe your body feels out of shape during this workout?? Gotta say mine sure does!!!

I don't think Covert says exactly what they are but does explain them that way..something to do with your cardiovascular system. That is all I know about it. That is why they seem to happen more frequently to people when they run, that is very strenuous cardio.....

 

[kotacam]

RE: bobadoo and kodacam

It only affects me for the first few workouts during the first week. After that no problem, and I'm back at the same level or better than before. So, duh, I put Imax on the the 2nd day back!

I workout 6 days a week, 1 to 1.5 hours per day, so I need that week off!