| >>I interviewed a prospective student tonight that has a sensitive digestive system. She tells me that if she sings for more than about a half an hour per day, that she suffers from an upset stomach the next day. She also said that doing sit ups caused an upset stomach the following day as well. When I asked her if she meant an upset stomach as in heartburn she indicated that the discomfort occurred lower down around the mid abdomen...Have any of you come across this before? << This is an interesting question. There is an unusual condition in which the abdominal muscles are over-tight. It acts like many other GI conditions: ulcers, gall bladder and so on. The problem is in the abdominal wall muscles. It is conceivable in her attempt to provide proper support she activates the overly sensitive muscles. Sit ups can do the same. Then for a day the muscles ache. She should of course be checked out to be sure there is nothing internal wrong, but if nothing else is found, physical therapy can help. Stretching exercises can help this. Then she will need guidance in proper support without hurting herself. John John J. Messmer, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Family & Community Medicine
Penn State College of Medicine | 
