Stitch problem - remedy ?

[Mulberry59]

Out of the blue, the last two times I have gone out to run I have got a painful stitch. The first time I ran through it, and although it didn’t completely go it was bearable. But last time I went out almost straight away I got an agonising stitch & had to stop. I’ve been running steadily since early January & never had a problem with this. I never run on a full stomach, am not going at a faster pace or anything, same terrain etc. Any tips for a) not getting it and b) how to deal with it when it happens please ?

[tony_a Graduate10]

Clenching stomach muscles and taking deep breaths seems to work for me when a stitch comes on. Generally only get if I’m pushing a bit more or generally having a bad run.

[Hidden]

When i was small and got stitches, my mother used to tell me to pull up the knee on the stitch side as high as I could. worked every time x

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Body twists are good for indigestion, wind and stitch

I stop running Bend down slowly and touch my toes, come back up slowly and reach for the sky with both arms in the air, both feet firmly planted in the ground. Then I stretch my arms a bit higher. Then with arms still raised I lean over into the side of the stitch. come back to centre and then repeat on the other side

I find I get stitch when running up or down hill. Keep your arms moving forward in a straight line and not across your body

[Hidden in reply to misswobble]

You lost me at touch my toes! 😐

[misswobble Graduate10]

As far as is humanly possible 😃

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

Laura has a top tip for stitches, I think it may be week 4...I find if I stop and stretch it eases off. Usually related to fluid slash food pre run.

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

Drink plenty of water the day before

[runningnearbeirut Graduate10]

I've read that if you have an odd number of strides for your breathing pattern it reduces (eliminates????) stitches. As in something like in for 3 and out for 4 so as you breathe in then alternate feet are hitting the ground.

I rarely get stitches but went through a phase of doing this anyway as it seemed to be good discipline for slowing my breathing down.