Why does my side hurt when i dance?

Dancing is a great way to entertain yourself, stay fit and healthy, and express your emotions through body movement. But sometimes during or after dancing, you might experience an unexpected pain in your side. If you’re thinking ‘Why does my side hurt when I dance?’, don’t worry! You are not alone. In fact, this is so common that it has a name – ‘side stitch.’ Still curious? Let’s dig into the reasons behind this phenomenon.

What Is A Side Stitch?

A side stitch (medically known as Exercise-Related Transient Abdominal Pain or ETAP) is a sudden pain felt on one side of the abdomen due to exercise like running or dancing. Usually, it occurs under the ribcage but can also be experienced at the lower abdominal region.

The intensity of pain varies from person to person; some may describe it as mild discomfort while others may feel like they have been stabbed with a knife. Some people even compare it with labor pains because that’s how severe it can get!

Causes Of A Side Stitch

There isn’t any specific reason for why we experience side stiches, and there are different theories regarding its causes too:

Diaphragm Fatigue

One theory suggests that intense exercise fatigues our diaphragm muscle causing irritation in surrounding nerves which leads to a spasm resulting in a painful sensation.

Blood Flow Disruption

Another theory points out that vigorous activity causes blood vessels around organs in our torso like liver and spleen to constrict temporarily reducing blood flow leading towards cramping feeling causing us misery worthy of melodramatic soliloquies.

Improper Breathing

Improper breathing techniques could also lead toward getting a side ache especially shallow quick breaths.

Common Remedies For Alleviating A Side Stitch

Now that we know the possible causes for a side stitch, your next question might be, “How can I get relief?” Fear not! There are simple remedies you could try at home:

  • Slow Down Your Pace: If you are doing an activity like running or dancing, slow down immediately if this happens to you.

  • Bending Toward The Painful Side: Bend towards the side of the pain and take some deep breaths slowly.

  • Stretching To Ease Diaphragm Tension: You could also stretch out your sides by raising both arms above your head while inhaling deep breaths as it helps relaxes cramped diaphragm and eases tension around surrounding muscles.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

The best way to tackle a side stitch is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Here are some tips you could follow:

Stay Hydrated

It’s essential to stay hydrated pre, during and post workout, so drink plenty of water before starting with any exercise routine.

Do A Warm-Up Session

Don’t dive into intense physical activity without warming up before any rigorous exercise session because stretching yourself physically suddenly may put unnecessary strain on muscles leading towards side cramping.

Stop Eating Heavy Meals Right Before Physical Activity

Eating heavy meals right before working out will force your stomach to work overtime causing digestion delays throwing off balance fuel requirements tipping scales further towards riskier burnout besides creating discomfort through forced muscle compression due to bloating.

Correct Breathing Technique

Breathing properly while performing strenuous activity makes all the difference between stiched-up misery or smooth strides forward.
##### Inhale Exhale Timing:
– Try counting maybe inhaling in sets of two-three then exhaling over one beat.

Belly Breath VS Chest Breath:
-Train yourself consciously beforehand toward utilizing proper breathing techniques breathing via belly versus chest aid oxygen circulation promoting healthy breathing pattern development eventually leading to reducing risks of a side stitch.

When To Visit A Doctor

Side stitches are common occurrences that can be treated easily by taking necessary precautions beforehand, will decrease chances occurrence. However, if you experience pain frequently even after following the above-mentioned solutions or if this discomfort extends beyond normal limits and gets unbearable it would be wise consulting doctor as there may possibly hidden underlying condition which needs expert intervention.

## In Conclusion

Dancing is meant for fun and self-expression; don’t make it painful with side stiches! Remember to stay hydrated, do warm-up sessions before starting any physical activity also keep working on correct breathing techniques through consciously inhaling both via chest & belly while counting beats in controlled manner leading towards better healthier habits over all. So let’s rock our dance moves free from unwelcome interruptions.

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