2024-07-27 14:18:23
Pain in the side – medically called “short-term abdominal pain associated with physical exertion” (ETAP) – is annoying and unpleasant, but not medically dangerous. But what causes this side pain?
Although side pains while running are not uncommon, no one knows exactly what causes them – and there are conflicting theories about which part of the body the pain originates from.
For many decades since this theory was first proposed in 1941., scientists and sports doctors believed that side pain was caused by insufficient blood flow to the diaphragm, the large muscle under the ribs that pulls air in and out of the lungs. This lack of blood can cause a painful cramp or spasm. This idea was based on the theory that when we exercise, blood travels away from the diaphragm and concentrates in the muscles of the limbs.
But “this idea has fallen out of favor because the diaphragm is also working harder during exercise, which would direct blood towards it rather than away from it,” says Andrew Lavender, a senior lecturer in exercise and sport science at Australia’s Federation University.
Another idea is that the “constant jolts” the body experiences during activities like running strain the ligaments that attach the abdominal organs to the diaphragm, Lavender says. This theory may explain why runners often experience this pain, but it does not explain why such pain can occur when swimming, rowing or cycling.
Some argue that poor physical fitness can increase the risk of such pains, but A. Lavenderis – because well-trained athletes also experience these pains. Still other scholars offer a versionthat this pain originates from the intestines – because during physical exertion, the intestines are poorly supplied with blood. Another theory pain is associated with compression of the nerves that branch off from the spinal cord and pass between the ribs.
However by far the most common theory points to a membrane called the peritoneum as the likely source of the pain. The peritoneum is a double-layered, balloon-like sac that encloses the organs inside the abdomen. Its inner layer surrounds organs – such as the stomach – while the outer layer adheres to the walls of the abdomen and pelvis.
2000 m. fromurnale „Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise“ paskelbtame tyrime researchers have suggested that the most likely cause of flank pain is that the inner and outer layers of the peritoneum rub against each other during exercise, causing irritation. The researchers came to this conclusion after interviewing more than 900 regular exercisers about their experiences with ETAP and comparing their descriptions with theories of how side stitches occur.
Peritoneal irritation is now believed to be the source of such pain, says Lavender. This theory is supported by the fact that side pain becomes more likely if you eat or drink immediately before physical activity. When the stomach is full, it presses on the peritoneum, bringing its two layers closer to itself and increasing the friction between them, he wrote in 2000. study authors.
2004 m. žurnale „International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism“ paskelbtame tyrime fruit juice and high-sugar sports drinks have also been found to cause such pain much more often than water or any liquid. This may be because such “hypertonic” drinks draw water out of the peritoneal cells, resulting in greater friction – or because these drinks last longer in the gut than watertherefore pressing on the peritoneum.
With that in mind, Lavender says keeping a close eye on how much food you eat and when you snack before a workout can help prevent side pain.
“Eat a small amount of food before your workout and make sure there’s enough time between eating and starting your workout,” he advises. High-fiber or high-fat foods take longer to digest than low-fiber and low-fat foods, so if you’re eating the former, it’s best to wait at least 60-90 minutes before your workout.
Note that typical flank pain is pain on one side of the abdomen that occurs with exercise and resolves with rest. If you’re experiencing persistent chest or abdominal pain, experts recommend seeing a doctor — because it could be something more serious, Live Science writes.
2024-07-27 14:18:23