Getting the wind knocked out of you

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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.

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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