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Published on: 4/7/2025

Why Does Stomach Pain Occur When Sitting but Not Standing, and What Can Be Done to Alleviate It?

Stomach pain when sitting could be caused by pressure on nerves or changes in how gas moves in your intestines. Changing your posture and using a supportive cushion while taking breaks from sitting can help relieve the pain.

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Explanation

Sometimes when you sit down, you might feel pain in your stomach because of how your internal organs are arranged in that position. One possible reason is that sitting puts pressure on nerves in your belly, a condition sometimes called abdominal cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES), which can make your stomach hurt. Another reason is that when you sit, your intestines may move gas differently, causing discomfort. To help ease this pain, try to change your sitting position often and use a cushion or a chair that supports your back and belly. This can reduce the pressure on the nerves and help your muscles relax. Additionally, doing gentle stretching or taking short walking breaks during long periods of sitting might improve blood flow and ease the discomfort. If you continue to feel pain or it starts to get worse even when you change your habits, it is a good idea to have a healthcare professional check it out to make sure nothing more serious is causing your pain.

(References)

  • Applegate WV. Abdominal Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome (ACNES): A Commonly Overlooked Cause of Abdominal Pain. Perm J. 2002 Summer;6(3):20–7. PMCID: PMC6220638.

  • Dainese R, Serra J, Azpiroz F, Malagelada JR. Influence of body posture on intestinal transit of gas. Gut. 2003 Jul;52(7):971-4. doi: 10.1136/gut.52.7.971. PMID: 12801953; PMCID: PMC1773697.

  • Kim Y, Kang HW, Kim SH, Park KN. Prolonged sitting-induced back pain influences abdominal muscle thickness in a sitting but not a supine position. Sci Rep. 2021 Aug 12;11(1):16369. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-95795-w. PMID: 34385531; PMCID: PMC8360962.

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