Side stitch (also called a
side ache, a
side cramp, a
side crampie, a
side sticker or simply a
stitch) is an intense stabbing
pain under the lower edge of the
ribcage that occurs while
exercising. It is also referred to as
exercise related transient abdominal pain (ETAP). Some people think that this
abdominal pain may be caused by the internal organs (like the
liver and
stomach) pulling downwards on the
diaphragm, but that theory is inconsistent with its frequent occurrence during
swimming, which involves almost no downward force on these organs. If the pain is present only when exercising and is completely absent at rest, in an otherwise healthy person, it is benign and does not require investigation. There are a variety of published ways of alleviating the symptoms including adjusting at what point in a runner's stride they inhale.