Ever wonder why... You get cramp when you exercise?

A stabbing side cramp – commonly known as stitch – occurs during or after exercise. It is widely believed that a lack of blood (and therefore oxygen) supplied to the diaphragm during exercise causes the pain. However, this doesn’t account for cramps that occur in activities which don’t challenge the respiratory system, such as horseriding.

It is more likely that stitch occurs due to a combination of factors, says Dr Brad Muir, Assistant Professor at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. These include stress on abdominal ligaments that hold organs in place; friction and irritation in the tissue of the abdominal wall; and eating or drinking something that is high in sugar or heavy in the stomach prior to exercising. This causes the abdominal ligaments to work harder.