Breast pain affects the performance of elite female athletes

Brisbine, Brooke R.; Steele, Julie R.; Phillips, Elissa; McGhee, Deirdre E.

doi:10.1080/02640414.2020.1712016

Cited by 36 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Fit and function issues associated with body armour are further exacerbated by wearing a bra because a bra can change breast shape and limit breast deformability under a hard plate. Moreover, bras function to lift and support the breasts to reduce pain and discomfort associated with breast movement (Scurr et al, 2014 ; Brisbine et al, 2020b ), whereas body armour places downwards pressure on the breasts, effectively acting against the support provided by a bra (Niemczyk et al, 2020 ). Therein lies an additional challenge in designing body armour suitable for female soldiers with large breasts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Torso and Breast Characteristics on the Perceived Fit of Body Armour Systems Among Female Soldiers: Implications for Body Armour Sizing and Design

Coltman

Brisbine

Molloy

et al. 2022

Front. Sports Act. Living

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This study aimed to provide normative data characterising the torsos and breasts of female soldiers and to determine which torso and breast anthropometric measurements contributed to reports of poor body armour fit. Ninety-seven female Australian Army soldiers completed a questionnaire about their experience with current-issue body armour, including perceptions of fit. Participants also attended a single testing session where we took a three-dimensional scan of their breasts and torso and collected several anthropometric measurements to characterise their torso size and shape. Sixteen of the 22 breast and torso measurements collected were significantly related to the perceived fit of current-issue body armour systems. To improve perceptions of fit for female soldiers and, in turn, reduce movement interference, discomfort, and barriers to occupational performance, future body armour systems should cater to the wide range of female breast and torso shapes and sizes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Torso and Breast Characteristics on the Perceived Fit of Body Armour Systems Among Female Soldiers: Implications for Body Armour Sizing and Design

Coltman

Brisbine

Molloy

et al. 2022

Front. Sports Act. Living

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“…Similar cyclic high impact activities involving continuous locomotion and rapid changes in direction are associated with exerciseinduced breast pain in athletic populations, through excessive and repetitive movement in the vertical, medial, and lateral directions (Burbage and Cameron 2017;Mason, Page, and Fallon 1999;White, Scurr, and Smith 2009). Exercise-induced breast pain remains an important health complaint that can significantly impact on the exercising females' physical performance, health and overall well-being (Brisbine et al 2020;Brown et al 2014b;Burbage and Cameron 2017). Furthermore, excessive breast movement during running can produce large forces on the breasts causing unnecessary breast skin strain and irreparable skin damage affecting breast aesthetics (Norris et al 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Whilst non-exercise related (mastalgia) and exerciseinduced breast pain has been identified in recreational and elite athletes, and US Army female veterans (Brisbine et al 2020;Burnett, White, and Scurr 2015;Johnson et al 2006;Scurr et al 2014), the incidence and severity of breast pain in British Army female recruits during BT is currently unknown. Anecdotal evidence suggests that female recruits experience breast and bra fit issues during BT, related to the strenuous physical demands of BT, the use of ill-fitting breast support (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Whilst there is a lack of research on factors associated with breast pain in military personnel, research involving 1,285 female marathon runners found that 32% experienced breast pain, significantly related to increases in cup size, body mass index and more vigorous compared to moderate physical activity (Brown et al 2014b). Brisbine et al (2020) found that 44% of elite Australian athletes reported exercise-induced breast pain during training and competition, with 32% of those athletes reporting a negative effect on performance. Furthermore, Johnson et al (2006) investigated the prevalence and frequency of breast pain among 1,219 female US veterans and found that 55% reported at least one form of breast pain, of which 15% reported exercise-induced breast pain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, Johnson et al (2006) investigated the prevalence and frequency of breast pain among 1,219 female US veterans and found that 55% reported at least one form of breast pain, of which 15% reported exercise-induced breast pain. It is wellknown that breast pain is an important health issue in exercising females, commonly linked with inappropriate breast support specific to the demands of the occupation, sport or activity (Brisbine et al 2020;Burbage and Cameron 2017;Burnett, White, and Scurr 2015;Johnson et al 2006;Scurr et al 2014). Due to the arduous nature of BT and military life, British Army female recruits may experience similar, if not greater breast pain, discomfort and fitting issues than athletes and veterans.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The incidence of breast health issues and the efficacy of a sports bra fit and issue service in British Army recruits

et al. 2021

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Increasing retention of female recruits throughout Basic Training (BT) is a key priority for the British Army. The aims of this study were two-fold; (i) quantify breast health issues and sports bra usage within female British Army recruits, and (ii) assess the influence of professionally fitted sports bras on breast health and bra fit issues across 13 weeks of BT. A survey was completed by 246 female recruits that identified the incidence of breast health issues during BT. Subsequently, 33 female recruits were provided with professionally fitted sports bras during Week-1 of BT. Recruits completed a survey in Week-1 (Pre) and Week-13 (Post). There was a high incidence of bra issues during BT, which did not reduce following the implementation of professionally fitted sports bras. The authors recommend further research into the specific functional requirements of breast support relative to the demands of BT and the needs of the female recruit.

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Is your system fit for purpose? Female athlete health considerations for rugby injury and illness surveillance systems

Moore,

McCarthy‐Ryan,

Palmer

et al. 2024

European Journal of Sport Science

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This review discusses female‐specific health considerations in injury and illness surveillance and provides rugby‐specific recommendations for future surveillance. Identifying priority injury and illness problems by determining those problems with the highest rates within women's rugby may highlight different priorities than sex comparisons between men's and women's rugby. Whilst sports exposure is the primary risk for health problems in sports injury and illness surveillance, female athletes have health domains that should also be considered. Alongside female athlete health domains, studies investigating rugby injuries and illnesses highlight the need to broaden the health problem definition typically used in rugby injury and illness surveillance. Using a non‐time‐loss health problem definition, recording female‐specific population characteristics, embedding female athlete health domains and having up‐to‐date injury and illness coding systems should be prioritized within surveillance systems to begin to shed light on potential interactions between sports exposure, health domains and, injuries and illnesses. We call for a collaborative approach across women's rugby to facilitate large injury and illness datasets to be generated and enable granular level categorization and analysis, which may be necessary for certain female athlete health domains. Applying these recommendations will ensure injury and illness surveillance systems improve risk identification and better inform injury and illness prevention strategies in women's rugby.

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Breast pain affects the performance of elite female athletes

Cited by 36 publications

References 29 publications

Effect of Torso and Breast Characteristics on the Perceived Fit of Body Armour Systems Among Female Soldiers: Implications for Body Armour Sizing and Design

Effect of Torso and Breast Characteristics on the Perceived Fit of Body Armour Systems Among Female Soldiers: Implications for Body Armour Sizing and Design

The incidence of breast health issues and the efficacy of a sports bra fit and issue service in British Army recruits

Is your system fit for purpose? Female athlete health considerations for rugby injury and illness surveillance systems

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