Many endurance athletes, such as runners, experience abdominal pain at least once in their lives. While some forms of abdominal pain can be from inexperience or diet, others can be caused by injury or serious health problems. The first step to preventing and treating your abdominal pain is identifying the cause. If your pain is severe or continues after you have stopped running, contact a health-care provider.
Muscle Cramp
Abdominal muscle cramps, also known as stitches, are common for many runners. Although the exact physiological reason for them is not known, they are often caused by a lack of oxygen in your abdominal muscles during exercise. Prevent abdominal cramps by warming up or starting your run slowly. If you already have a cramp, slow your pace, take deep breaths and massage the muscle. Stitches are more common in inexperienced runners and often become less frequent over time.
Gastrointestinal Problems
According to researchers at Rice University, 40 percent of runners experience gastrointestinal problems during a run. While the reasons for this may vary, many gastrointestinal problems can cause intestinal cramps and stomach aches. Dehydration and diet can be the underlying reason for these problems. To prevent them, keep yourself hydrated and choose your pre-run meals carefully. Avoid eating rich or high-fiber foods the day of your run, and do not eat immediately before you run.
Appendicitis
Your appendix is in the lower right side of your abdomen. An infection or obstruction in this area, known as appendicitis, can cause your appendix to become swollen and produce pus. Typical symptoms of appendicitis are tenderness, nausea and fever, as well as gradually increasing pain in your lower right abdomen when you move. If you think you have appendicitis, contact a health-care provider. When left untreated, appendicitis can cause your appendix to rupture and spread its infection to other areas of your body.
Abdominal Strain
A rupture to your rectus abdominis muscle can cause tenderness and sharp pain in your lower abdomen when you contract your muscles during exercise. Ruptures often happen when you are involved in a fast-paced sport that requires sporadic movements. If you do not give your abdominal strain time to heal properly, you are at a greater risk of re-injuring yourself. To avoid a reoccurring abdominal strain, apply heat to the strained area, consult a health-care provider and take a break from exercises that use this muscle.
References
- Rice University: Abdominal Pain in Runners
- "British Journal of Sports Medicine"; Abdominal Pain in Long Distance Runners: Case Report and Analysis of the Literature; F. Dimeo et al.; October 2004
- Mayo Clinic: Appendicitis
- Sports Injury Clinic: Abdominal Strain -- Inflammation or Rupture of the Stomach Muscles
