Side Stitches Still Puzzle Doctors

Doctors still aren’t actually sure why people get a stitch in their side during exercise. The sharp abdominal pain, often called exercise-related transient abdominal pain, usually appears during activities like running, swimming, or horseback riding. Researchers have proposed various potential causes, including tension on abdominal ligaments, irritation of the peritoneal lining, or diminished blood flow to the diaphragm. The pain usually fades after slowing down, breathing deeply, or stopping the activity, but its exact cause remains unsettled.

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