Intestinal pain is a common occurrence during exercise and often is related to a condition called exercise-related transient abdominal pain. When you suffer from exercise-related transient abdominal pain, you'll feel a cramping sensation in your abdomen during high intensity forms of exercise, such as running. You can take some precautions to prevent abdominal or intestine pain when jogging. If the pain persists, speak to your doctor to rule out other potential causes.
Features
When you jog, the bouncing motion moves the organs of the body and may produce a cramping sensation in your abdomen. The American Council on Exercise notes the movement that running produces pulls on the ligaments that connect the stomach to the diaphragm.
Location
The intestine pain likely will occur in the midsection of your abdomen. In severe cases, the pain may feel sharp and stabbing. In milder cases, a dull cramping and aching sensation is likely to occur. The pain typically will subside once you finish running or decrease exercise intensity. Stopping momentarily, contracting the abs and bending forward may also help treat intestinal pain symptoms.
Prevention/Solution
To avoid intestinal pain when jogging, you should avoid consuming large amounts of food and water right before your workout. Plan your meals to take place approximately two to four hours before exercise. The type of fluid you ingest can also be related to whether or not you experience intestinal pain while running. According to a 2003 paper by D.P. Morton in the "British Journal of Sports Medicine," you are more likely to experience exercise-related transient abdominal pain if you consume hypertonic beverages, which are drinks with a high carbohydrate content, during exercise. Isotonic beverages, which contain electrolytes and a smaller boost of carbohydrates, and hypotonic beverages, which are low in carbohydrates, are less likely to bring on the cramping sensation.
Considerations
The way you breathe during jogging can help control abdominal pain symptoms. Purse your lips and inhale deeply as you run. Let your breath out in a slow and controlled manner. Avoid taking shallow breaths when running if you are prone to stomach cramping.
Member Comments