Getting the wind knocked out of you is a commonly used idiom that refers to a kind of diaphragm spasm that occurs when sudden force is applied to the abdomen which puts pressure on the solar plexus. This often happens in contact sports, from a forceful blow to the abdomen, or by falling on the back. It results in a temporary paralysis of the diaphragm that makes it difficult to breathe.[1] The sensation of being unable to breathe can lead to anxiety and there may be residual pain from the original blow, but the condition typically clears spontaneously in a minute or two. Victims of a winding episode often groan in a strained manner until normal breathing resumes.
References
Notes
- ^ "What happens when you get winded?". BBC News. 28 September 2005.
Sources
- MacAuley, D (2007). Oxford Handbook of Sport and Exercise Medicine. Oxford University Press. p. 572. ISBN 0-19-856839-8.
- Shultz, Sandra J.; Houglum, Peggy A.; Perrin, David H. (2005). Examination of Musculoskeletal Injuries. Human Kinetics. p. 567. ISBN 0-7360-5138-4.
- "Getting the Wind Knocked Out of You" at kidshealth.org