You’re working hard on a point – spinning around like crazy. Suddenly, you feel a dull ache on your right side under your ribs. The point is important so you think you can work on it. The pain got worse so it stopped. Once you stop, the pain usually goes away. You just went through a side stitch.
Side stitches occur due to spasm of the diaphragm muscles. When we inhale, air enters the lungs and presses down on the diaphragm. When we exhale, the diaphragm moves up. When you eat a large meal right before playing tennis or when air gets trapped below your diaphragm, a contraction (tightening) can occur.
How do you skip a side stitch? The best immediate action is to try to stretch the spasmodic muscle. This can be done by alternating the breathing pattern. Take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds. He then forced the air out through the pursed lips to restrict the airflow. Other specialists have mentioned that prolonged bending and stretching helps flex the abdominal muscles.
The best way to avoid side stitches? Increase your fitness and conditioning exercises to strengthen your abdominal muscles. Make sure you don’t take in a lot of food or liquids before playing because the extra weight increases your downward pull, which can help with stitching.