Many athletes, especially runners, experience some form of pain in the stomach during or after exercise. There are several possible explanations for stomach pain, and most are easily treatable or avoidable. Three causes of stomach pain during or after workouts are cramps, dehydration and gastrointestinal distress.
Stomach Cramps
According to the University of Iowa Health Care, stomach cramps may be caused by a number of factors, including eating within 30 minutes of exercise, eating ore drinking too much or consuming the wrong type of foods or drink. If your electrolytes are imbalanced, digestion doesn't work properly, and any undigested food or drink may slosh around in the stomach, which causes stomach cramps. Do not eat within 30 minutes of exercise to try to avoid stomach cramps. Do not drink overly-sweetened beverages, since sugar tends to disrupt digestion.
Side Stitch
Runners often experience the pain of side stitches, which are possibly caused by the oxygen deficit created by running. In addition, many runners take shallow breaths, which may also cause the muscles of the chest wall to spasm. Lack of diaphragm use during strenuous exercise could also result in side stitch pain. If you experience a side stitch during running, stop and take several deep breaths which involve your diaphragm. Once the stitch abates, you should be able to resume your run.
Dehydration
Exercising while dehydrated causes stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. According to a July 2000 study published in the "European Journal of Applied Physiology," dehydration affects liquid gastric emptying. This means that stomach contents do not get digested and slosh around more. Ensure you are properly hydrated long before starting the exercise.
Gastrointestinal Distress
Gastrointestinal distress may be caused by medications and what food or drink you may have consumed prior to exercise. What you eat or drink during exercise also affects the GI tract. A study published in the June 1989 issue of "Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise" investigated different types of sugar and their effects on the body during exercise. The study showed that the consumption of fructose during exercise was associated with gastrointestinal distress in addition to reduced capacity for exercise. Avoid drinks sweetened with fructose or glucose-fructose.
References
- "European Journal of Applied Physiology"; Effect of dehydration on gastrointestinal function at rest and during exercise in humans; M. A. van Nieuwenhoven; July 2000
- "Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise"; The effects of glucose, fructose, and sucrose ingestion during exercise; R. Murray; June 1989
- Rice University: Abdominal Pain in Runners
- Uihealthcare.com: Abdominal Cramps
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