Evaluation of professional bra fitting criteria for bra selection and fitting in the UK

Corbett

et al. 2015

Human Movement Science

Many women wear sports bras due to positive benefits associated with these garments (i.e. reduction in breast movement and breast pain), however the effects these garments have on upper body running kinematics has not been investigated. Ten female participants (32 DD or 34 D) completed two five kilometer treadmill runs (9 km h(-1)), once in a low and once in a high breast support. The range of motion (ROM) and peak torso, pelvis, and upper arm Cardan joint angles were calculated over five gait cycles during a five kilometer run. Peak torso yaw, peak rotation of the pelvis, peak pelvis obliquity, ROM in rotation of the pelvis, and ROM in upper arm extension were significant, but marginally reduced when participants ran in the high breast support. The running kinematics reported in the high breast support condition more closely align with economical running kinematics previously defined in the literature, therefore, running in a high breast support may be more beneficial to female runners, with a high breast support advocated for middle distance runners.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of breast support on torso, pelvis and arm kinematics during a five kilometer treadmill run

Milligan

Corbett

et al. 2015

Human Movement Science

“…Following institutional ethical approval and prior to testing, each participant gave written informed consent and completed a health history questionnaire and had their blood pressure checked to ensure it was within the institutional guidelines. Participants' bra size was established by a trained bra fitter and fitted in the sports bra used for testing (using the fit criteria as set out by White and Scurr, 2012). Participant's swimsuits were sized according to the manufacturer's guidelines.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The movement of the trunk and breast during front crawl and breaststroke swimming

Journal of Sports Sciences

Lomax

Ayres

et al. 2014

Breast displacement has been investigated in various activities to inform bra design, with the goal of minimising movement; however, breast motion during swimming has yet to be considered. The aim was to investigate trunk and breast kinematics whilst wearing varying levels of breast support during two swimming strokes. Six larger-breasted females swam front crawl and breaststroke (in a swimming flume), in three breast support conditions while three video cameras recorded the motion of the trunk and right breast. Trunk and relative breast kinematics were calculated. Greater breast displacement occurred mediolaterally in the swimsuit condition (7.8, s = 1.5 cm) during front crawl and superioinferiorly in the bare-breasted condition (3.7, s = 1.6 cm) during breaststroke, with the sports bra significantly reducing breast displacements. During front crawl, the greatest trunk roll occurred in the sports bra condition (43.1, s = 8.3°) and during breaststroke greater trunk extension occurred in the swimsuit condition (55.4, s = 5.0°); however, no differences were found in trunk kinematics between the three breast support conditions. Results suggest that the swimsuit was ineffective as a means of additional support for larger-breasted women during swimming; incorporating design features of sports bras into swimsuits may improve the breast support provided.

“…Participants had not had any children, not experienced any surgical procedures, and were of a 34D or 32DD bra size (for international sizing readers are referred to McGhee & Steele, 2006). Participants were bra fit using the best-fit method recommended by White and Scurr (2012). All participants provided written informed consent to participate in this study and had a mean (SD) age of 23 years (2 years), body mass 62.1 kg (5.4 kg), and height 1.60 m (0.05 m).…”

Section: Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of breast support on upper body muscle activity during 5km treadmill running

Milligan

Scurr

2014

Human Movement Science

Breast support has previously been shown to influence surface EMG of the pectoralis major during running. Reductions in muscle activity have previously been associated with a reduction in energy cost, which may be advantageous for female runners. Ten female participants performed two self-paced (average pace 9 km h(-1)) 5 km treadmill runs under two breast support conditions (low and high); an additional bare-breasted 2 min run was also conducted. Surface EMG electrodes were positioned on the pectoralis major, anterior deltoid, medial deltoid, and upper trapezius, with data collected during the first 2 min of running and each kilometer interval thereafter. Reductions in peak EMG of the pectoralis major, anterior and medial deltoid were reported when participants ran in the high breast support during the initial intervals of the run (up to the second kilometer). The increased activation in the pectoralis major, anterior and medial deltoid in the low breast support may be due to increased tension within these muscles, induced by the greater breast pain experienced in the low breast support. This may be a strategy to reduce the independent breast movement causing the pain through increased muscular activation. This study further promotes the use of a high breast support during running with potential benefits for treadmill running associated with reductions in muscular demand during a 5 km run.