Side cramp while running

[Polo2847]

Anyone know ways to reduce/ease/stop the pain of side cramps while running?

[Dimitri]

ALWAYS stretch before and after running or exercise and always drink water, a lot of it!!!!

[Maxxie]

Water upon water upon water upon water. It's incredibly hard to have too much water.

[ComedicRelief]

No idea but the two aforementioned pieces of advice sound about right to me. Or maybe you just need more conditioning?

[SwimRunSleep]

I run Varsity on our high school Cross Country team and a 99% chance of a spot on the varsity track. I run through it personaly, work hard and it will stop happening after awhile.

EDIT: Want to add, try bannaers before practice (1 or 2 hours before) xD Don't over hydrate that's sometimes why I get cramps.

[LGCALI]

Anyone know ways to reduce/ease/stop the pain of side cramps while running?


When I ran track, back in the day, a coach told me to take deep breaths and exaggerate the exhale ... Push the air all the way out of your lungs, then repeat until the cramp subsides. He explained that the 'cramp' was caused by the Diaphram ( a muscle that helps you take in air and exhale it ) having a spasm.

It always worked for me.

Because I had a "flashback" when I saw your post, I looked up some info. Glad to say that my coach was pretty much right on the money.

First it's called, "Diaphragm cramping, also called a side stitch or exercise-related transient abdominal pain."

Here is a solution I found:

"Using abdominal breathing while running may be helpful in reducing diaphragm cramping. During abdominal breathing, you inhale slowly through your nose, hold your breath for several seconds and breathe out through your mouth. As you inhale, you push your abdomen out and relax it again when you exhale. Deep breathing while keeping your lips pursed may also help. Pursed breathing involves inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth while keeping your lips together as though you are whistling?"

Hope it helps. :D

[tHe_Jester1080]

in cross country coach said if you get side cramp to lift arms up behind your head like crunches and keep running

[oceandude33a]

stretch, and drink water, before/while/after

[Kgee]

I also get this before I run when I'm not fit.

[Elenin]

I read that you should not run until an hour or more has passed since the last time you had something to eat. In my short experience, that "practice" has eliminated side cramps.

[bigjohnson]

i have ap bio and i just learned you need to breath more.. the reason for the cramps is becuse your cells are not getting oxygen