Almost everyone who does any type of vigorous exercise such as running or biking will experience a side ache from time to time. A side ache is a spasm in the diaphragm which happens during strenuous running or other very aerobic activity. The experts on the subject are not exactly sure what the cause is. But even the best exercise program can result in side aches. Some believe it to be related to eating and/or drinking too much before exercise. Another group believes it has something to do with shaking the diaphragm while running which causes the spasm. I tend to believe it is because of eating or drinking before I run. In almost every case when I have suffered a side ache while running, I drank too soon before exercising.

A Side Ache Cure?

But regardless of the cause, what can be done for a side ache? The good news is that they aren’t dangerous. But since they usually occur well into the exercise, they can be very distracting. But I have found, after much trial and painful error, that a side ache is something which can be “run-through”. What I mean is that some pains will come and go during exercise. The trick is to know which pains to stop for and which to “run-through”. (I have other health and fitness tips here.)

I am a runner and used to walk when a side ache came. It would subside and I would return running. However, I have found that I can run through a side ache. Although it is very distracting, it will usually disappear faster if I just continue running. And nine times out of ten it will not return. If I stop to walk until it subsides, it will often return upon running again. I estimate that when I get a side ache I only need to keep running and it will go away in a matter of minutes or less. Many will go away in less than a minute.

Side Ache Prevention

If you suffer from side aches on a regular basis (which can really ruin your " runners high "!), take note of when they occur and how long it was since you ate or drank anything. It could be that different people get them for different reasons. If you get a side ache often and do not eat or drink for several hours before exercise, you may be one whose diaphragm spasms because of the jarring motion. In this case you have little remedy besides learning to “run through” the pain. After successfully waiting out the side ache several times, it becomes easier to accept the pain knowing it will soon disappear. In fact, “beating” the side ache on a regular basis builds confidence! It feels good to be in control of your body to that extent…or it does for me anyway!