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Expert Q&A

	By Kelli Calabrese Exercise Physiologist

I heard somewhere that the sharp stabbing pain that I get in my side when I walk or run is from being dehydrated. Is that true? What else could be causing it? It gets so painful that I just quit.

Many people are walking around dehydrated and don't even know it. If you are waiting until you are thirsty to drink – it's too late! You are already dehydrated. Many people do not have regular bowel movements because they are dehydrated. However, that may not be the reason for the cramping. The cramping has to do with a waist product that is built up during exercise called lactic acid. For those who are fit, the body can use the lactic acid as a form of fuel to continue exercising. The waste product is used for energy. For those who are unfit, the lactic acid builds up and to give the body a warning sign to slow up and let the body catch up to the level of acid being produced, you get a stabbing pain in your side.

The body is absolutely amazing and will give you signals – we just need to pay more attention to the signs. Over time as you become more fit, those stabbing pains go away. Increase intensity gradually to avoid the sharp stabbing pains. When they do occur, they subside momentarily when you slow down activity.

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