What causes a side stitch?
Disease description:
After exercising, there is a brief pain in the chest area, and a condition known as "岔气" (interruption of qi) occurs. What causes this "岔气" condition?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Costochondral pain, commonly referred to as "respiratory muscle spasm" or "intercostal neuralgia," is a common transient painful sensation occurring during exercise, primarily on the lateral sides of the chest cavity. This phenomenon is more prevalent among athletes and individuals who regularly engage in physical labor, especially during the initial phase of intense exercise or when exercise intensity suddenly increases.
1. Intense exercise: Inadequate warm-up before strenuous activity or abruptly initiating high-intensity exercise can easily lead to spasms of the intercostal muscles and diaphragm, resulting in costochondral pain.
2. Lifting heavy objects: Sudden exertion in the chest and abdominal areas while lifting heavy items may also cause acute spasms of the chest muscles and diaphragm, leading to costochondral pain.
3. Irregular breathing: During exercise, improper breathing techniques, such as excessively shallow or rapid breathing, may prevent sufficient oxygen supply to the muscles and timely removal of carbon dioxide, potentially causing an accumulation of acidic metabolic byproducts in the respiratory muscles and subsequent pain.
4. Weather factors: In extremely cold weather, muscles tend to tense up more easily, increasing the risk of costochondral pain.
5. Excessive fatigue: Prolonged fatigue or overuse of muscles may lead to muscle exhaustion and spasms, triggering costochondral pain.
