[lit-ideas] A stitch in time

At 11:49 AM 7/30/2004, you wrote:
>Looking at the sun always causes one to sneeze.  I'd like a  physiological
>explanation of this, please.
>
>Julie Krueger
>still waiting after 40 years for someone to explain why running hard causes
>a pain in the side.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NHF/is_4_18/ai_86649611

You are constantly reminded to drink before, during, and after a workout. 
But did you know that drinking fluids immediately before a run is a good 
way to induce a side stitch? Researchers in New Zealand wanted to figure 
out just what causes side stitch pain in runners. There are two prevailing 
theories. One relates to decreased blood flow to internal organs that have 
shunted to the stomach for digestion. The other involves stretching of the 
visceral ligaments (tugging on the ligaments of the internal organs by a 
stomach heavy with liquid). One is physiological relating to digestion and 
blood flow, the other, mechanical.

The researchers gave ten active, healthy young men either no liquid 
(control) or a body-mass adjusted amount of four different fluids before 
treadmill running--water, a sport drink, de-carbonated cola, or a 
non-absorbable osmotic solution. Stitches developed to about the same 
extent with each of the different fluids. Because all four treatment groups 
would produce tugging and only two would involve digestion, the results 
support the idea that pulling on the internal organs might explain side 
stitch pain.

The researchers also tested various methods of treating a side stitch 
including bending over while tightening the abdominal muscles, tightening a 
belt around the waist, or breathing through pursed lips with extra big 
breaths--all of which alleviated the stitch within seconds.

According to Jack Daniels, Ph.D., understanding breathing rhythms while 
running can help you

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