I"m sure we've all had it but....
The pain a person gets in their side when jogging or running etc. Anyone know what it's from?
The origin of a cramp depends on the type.
Side cramp or ''stitch": This cramp strikes you in the side, as the name implies, or even in the lower abdominal area. It's mainly the result of shallow breathing, not breathing deeply from the lower lung, says Jeff Galloway, a 1972 Olympian and veteran runner who has trained more than 200,000 runners and walkers and runs a marathon training program. ''The side pain is a little alarm" alerting you that you're breathing too shallowly, Galloway says. An imbalance of blood electrolytes (such as calcium, potassium, and sodium) in your body may also contribute, says Pete McCall, an exercise physiologist and spokesman for the American Council on Exercise.
Stomach cramps: Again, incorrect breathing can play a role, Galloway says. But so can what you've eaten or drank before the workout. "If you have put too much fluid or food in your stomach, you can't get a large breath," Galloway says. If your levels of sodium, potassium, and calcium are off kilter, it could contribute to stomach cramps, too, McCall says.
Muscle cramps: When your leg muscles cramp up on you, dehydration is often to blame, McCall says.