Still get stitches at the gym.

Question

I asked this question a couple of weeks back but the answer didnt really solve the problem.

So if anybody knows what it could be please tell me.

So i go to the gym do the bike excerise etc

However i get to the treadmill like 3 minutes in at 8km/h i get a stitch just at the right side of my stomach. People say it could be my breathing (as in breathing to little or too much) Iv been going for a couple of weeks now. Also they say that i may have slow digestion and going to the gym bit early after iv ate?

I dont know if it could be my fitness or what,im not as fit as i used to be. Im 15 and weigh 7 1/2 stone.

Help please, all answers appreciated.

Thanks!

Answer 1

There are a number of reasons why you might be getting a stitch on a regular basis:

Most likely reason as you mention is either eating or drinking before/during exercise. Allow at least 30 mins after a meal before you go to the gym. Try to avoid drinking anything whilst actually running, waiting until after. Or slow down your speed to have a sip of water.

There are theories that stitch  is linked to breathing in when placing your right foot forward, as this jars the diaphragm. I dont put much stock in this but as an experiment you could try making sure you breathe in whilst putting the left foot down. If you are overweight or of poor fitness level you are probably going to be breathing heavier and maybe this makes it more likely you will be breathing in at irregular moments- just a hunch anyway.

To get rid of a stitch a nice method is to bend down and touch your toes for one minute.