Running with an anal fissure

Published 13 March 2026 ·Last reviewed 13 March 2026 by the editorial team ·How we create our content

A composite account, drawn from many real anonymised experiences. It is not any one person's story.

What this experience covers

This is a composite account of how runners manage their sport while dealing with an anal fissure. It draws from many anonymised stories and covers the range of experiences — from people who found running made things worse to those who continued throughout their fissure with minimal issues.

The pattern

The mixed picture

Running with a fissure is not straightforward. People describe a wide range of experiences:

Some find running has no noticeable effect on their fissure — it neither helps nor worsens it
Others describe running as aggravating — the impact, the movement, or the sweating increases discomfort
A smaller group describes running as helpful — the movement promotes blood flow and the mental health benefits outweigh the physical discomfort

What tends to help

Running on softer surfaces (trails, grass) rather than pavement
Shorter, easier runs rather than long or intense sessions
Running at times when fissure symptoms are lower — often later in the day rather than right after a bowel movement
Wearing moisture-wicking, seamless underwear to reduce friction and sweat
A sitz bath after running to counteract any irritation

What tends to make things worse

Long runs that cause significant sweating in the perineal area
Running immediately after a bowel movement when the sphincter is in spasm
Tight or rough running clothing that creates friction
Ignoring increased pain and pushing through

The decision

Most people describe a trial-and-error approach. They try a short, easy run and assess how the fissure responds in the following 24 hours. If there is no increase in pain or bleeding, they gradually increase. If there is, they scale back or switch to lower-impact activity like walking or swimming.

Everyone’s situation is different. If you want to talk through yours in a private, judgement-free space, our chat is here.

When to contact your doctor

Seek medical attention if you experience:

Heavy or persistent bleeding that does not settle
Severe pain that is getting worse rather than better
Fever or signs of infection
Symptoms that have not improved after 4 to 6 weeks of self-care

When to seek care Heavy bleeding or feeling faint? Get emergency help now. Emergency: 911

Not sure how urgent it is? Get help today.

Emergency
Heavy bleeding, black tarry stools, feeling faint, severe pain or trouble breathing.

Call 911 or go to the ER.
Today
Fever, pain getting worse, a hot swollen lump, or trouble passing urine.

Call your doctor or go to urgent care.
Soon
Bleeding or bowel changes nobody has checked, or anything lasting 3 weeks.

Book a doctor’s appointment.

Feeling overwhelmed? Call or text 988, any time.

See all the signs

For this topic, get medical advice if you notice:

Severe or worsening pain
Heavy bleeding
Fever
Black stools
Fainting or dizziness
Pus or unusual discharge
Inability to pass stool or gas
Unexplained weight loss

Recording how you feel is not the same as being checked. These are the signs that need a doctor’s attention.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room now if you have:

bleeding that will not stop, a lot of blood (the toilet water turns red, or you pass large clots), or any bleeding with feeling faint or dizzy
fainting, a racing heart or trouble breathing
confusion or slurred speech, extreme shivering, no urine in a day, or blotchy skin
sudden severe belly pain, or a swollen, hard belly with vomiting or not passing stool or gas
you cannot pass urine at all, or your bladder feels full and painful and you can’t empty it
redness, swelling or severe pain spreading quickly around your anus, genitals or groin, especially with a fever or feeling very ill
a fever with a painful swelling near your anus if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system (for example, from chemotherapy or transplant medicines)
black, tarry stools

Call your doctor or go to urgent care today (or the ER if you can’t be seen today) if you have:

a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, vomiting, or feeling generally unwell
pain that is getting worse over days, or severe pain that stops you sitting or sleeping
a hot, swollen or very tender lump near your anus or at the top of the crease between your buttocks, or foul-smelling discharge
trouble urinating
bleeding that is getting heavier or more frequent, or blood mixed into your stool
feeling much more tired than usual, looking pale, or getting out of breath more easily than you used to
not passing stool for several days, or new belly pain

Make an appointment with your doctor if:

you have never had these symptoms checked by a doctor or nurse — whatever your age
you have had rectal bleeding for more than 3 weeks
your bowel movements have been looser, thinner or more frequent than usual for 3 weeks or more, or you have lost weight without trying
symptoms have not settled after a week or so, or keep coming back
you notice a new lump near your anus, between your buttocks or in your belly, or an itch or discharge that does not clear
you have new leakage or trouble controlling your bowels
you are 45 or over, or have a family history of bowel cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, and any of these symptoms are new for you

If you are unsure, it is always reasonable to ask. If things feel overwhelming, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or chat at 988lifeline.org, any time. If you don’t feel safe, call 911.

Showing US care routes. Change region at the foot of the page.

Discreet symptom tracking

Symptoms that come and go? Keep track, day by day.

For hemorrhoids, fissures, fistulas and other anal and rectal problems. A short, discreet email asks how things have been, and saves each answer, so you can look back at every flare and every good week in your own words. If you haven’t had your symptoms checked, see your doctor first.

About ten seconds a check-in. No app, no password.
Nothing in the subject or preview says what it’s about.
Each Sunday, a link to your week, ready for your next appointment.

Start tracking →

Your notes

Your check-in

Takes about ten seconds.

20:00

Example. Nothing on the lock screen hints at symptoms or conditions.