What Is The Best Way To Treat A Side Stitch From Running?

July 1, 2009— -- Question: What is the best way to treat a side stitch from running?

Answer: Well, the truth is we're not 100 percent sure what causes the side stitch with running, but what has worked for a lot of active people is that when they get that annoying pain in their side to try and adjust their breathing pattern and do the opposite of what you normally would do. And that would be when you breathe in, instead of sucking your belly in to actually push it out and the opposite when you breathe out, suck your belly in. And for some reason that seems to help the diaphragm, that big muscle right under your lungs, work in a different fashion and relieve that side stitch pain.