Scatter a few chunks of 2x4 around the house where you tend to stand, say kitchen and bathroom. The Latest Word on Stitches In the May-June 1992 issue of Running Research News there is an article by Dr. Gordon Quick about the causes of and cures for stitches. The cause of the spasm is that the organs below it are jouncing up and down and pulling down as it wants to pull up. The liver being the largest organ is the biggest culprit which is why most stitches are on the right side. A stomach full of food may also contribute to the problem for the same reason.
Stitches also occur more often when running downhill or in cold weather.
The cure seems almost too simple. Breathe out when your left foot strikes the ground instead of when the right foot strikes so that the organs on the right side of the abdomen are jouncing up when the diaphragm is going up. The organs attached to the bottom of the diaphragm on the left aren't as big, so exert less downward pulling strain. If this is not enough to get rid of it, stop and raise you arms above your head until the pain goes away and when you resume, be a left foot breather. Water empties from the stomach faster than solids and the risk of complications from dehydration far exceed the problems one may have with a stitch.