SELF reported on why we get side stitches and fixes that help, featuring insight from Hunter Carter, MA, ACSM-EP, CPT, CES, USATF-1, exercise physiologist at HSS.

The side stitch is a sharp, localized pain that comes on during exercise and occurs in the abdomen, typically below the rib cage shared Carter. “A lot of people will describe it as sort of like a stabbing pain in the ribs,” he said. For many people, this sensation crops up on the right side of the body, he continued.

Maintaining good core activation throughout your workouts can reduce the chances of a side stitch coming on in the first place. “Abdominal bracing is going to help correct or prevent that abdominal lining from going through so much irritation,” Carter said. To help on this front, he gives the cue of knitting your ribs together and keeping them closed together (versus flared out), even as you inhale. With running specifically, he recommends leaning your torso slightly forward as you stride, since this posture can help recruit your core muscles.

Read the full article at self.com.