Search

Despite health and performance benefits of appropriate breast support in sport, elite women athletes' knowledge of breasts/bras is poor leading to poor bra choices, breast pain and performance decrements. This multiphase intervention assessed breast/bra issues and preferences, individually prescribed sports bras and evaluated outcomes for the England Senior Women footballers. Breast/bra workshops were delivered to England players; all 36 completed pre-intervention surveys and breast/bra assessments, before being prescribed bras six weeks before European and World Championships (2022, 2023). 24 players completed post-intervention surveys. Pre-intervention outcomes identified poor knowledge, poor bra fit, many bra issues, and cultural sensitivities. Breast pain was prevalent (61%), with 25% reporting clinically significant breast pain. Post-intervention, players reported significant improvements with prescribed sports bras. 91% reported improvements in knowledge and benefiting from the intervention. This successful intervention provided an evidence-base for ongoing breast health initiatives with England Teams, plus roll-out to all levels of women's football. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

World RugbyTM supports dedicated women's welfare, injury surveillance and medical/technical interventions, yet breast health has received limited attention. This article aims to provide insights into breast health issues in rugby, including breast impacts and injuries. We discuss how breast anatomy and position may be problematic in rugby. Breast volume relates to body size, which may be increasing in women's rugby, suggesting increased breast surface area and mass, potentially increasing injury risk. Breast health issues in rugby have been reported previously, with 58% of contact footballers (including rugby) experiencing breast injuries. There are damaging effects related to these breast health issues, with breast impacts often causing pain and swelling. Breast impacts may lead to haematomas, cysts and fat necrosis which can calcify over time making them difficult to distinguish from breast carcinoma, causing further investigation and anxiety. In sport, poor bra fit and insufficient support are associated with pain, skin strain and performance decrements. This article reports the potential implications of these breast health issues on performance in rugby. Recent breast‐related projects supported by rugby communities may address recommendations identified in the literature for robust breast injury classifications, updated injury surveillance systems and prospective data collection on breast injury prevalence, severity and impact in rugby. These data should inform breast injury care pathways and intervention research, including evidence‐based bra design. Understanding the implications of breast impacts on tissue properties, health and wellbeing is vital. Finally, data should inform rugby‐specific breast education, raising awareness of this aspect of athlete health. Highlights: This article presents published data suggesting breast impacts and injuries are likely to be prevalent in all codes of women's rugby. Player's body mass may be increasing, which is associated with increased breast volume, surface area and mass, which could have an effect on breast injury prevalence in rugby.Breast impacts can induce pain, swelling and haematomas or fat necrosis causing palpable lumps. These impacts can result in cysts that may calcify mimicking breast carcinoma, causing pain, prompting further investigation. Whilst not linked to breast cancer, breast impacts during breast development may cause deformity.Published data from bra fittings indicates most contact footballers (including rugby players) wear ill‐fitting bras which are unlikely to protect against the consequences of excessive breast motion; pain, breast skin strain and performance decrements. As body/breast size increases in rugby players, the challenges of finding appropriate bras also increase.Previous research suggests breast impacts and injuries are under‐reported and under‐estimated. This article summarises priorities from the literature related to breast health issues in rugby; robust breast injury classifications, updated injury surveillance systems and prospective breast injury data collection, which should inform breast injury care pathways, awareness and intervention research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate breast support is recommended in sport; however, what constitutes appropriate support is complex, individual and often sports specific, particularly in elite sport given the wear duration. This intervention educated, assessed and advised elite British female athletes on breasts and bras; those with unresolved issues engaged in bespoke bra interventions. Following educational workshops (n = 80), breast/bra surveys (n = 60), individual bra assessments (n = 37); a rower, shooter, and hockey player participated in the bespoke bra intervention. Eighty-three per cent of athletes rated their breast/bra knowledge as ≤average. Fifty-one per cent experienced breast pain, affecting performance for 29%; seven used medication and one surgery to relieve symptoms. In individual bra assessments most wore ill-fitting, unsupportive bras and wanted bra advice. Bespoke bra interventions eliminated breast pain: for the rower, improved breast position and spine rotation; for the shooter, repositioned tissue and improved performance; and for the hockey player, accommodated smart devices. Whilst bespoke bra development is challenging, most elite athlete breast/bra issues are resolved via education, advice and fitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Schools are fundamental settings for health education and adolescent females are an important group for promoting positive breast habits. We surveyed 2089 schoolgirls (11‐18 years) to provide evidence for, and guidance on, breast education for schoolgirls. 26% reported negative feelings about their breasts and 87% reported ≥ one breast concern. 72% wanted to know more about breast cancer (69% rating this extremely important). >50% wanted to know more about breast sag and breast pain. Preferred delivery format was age eleven (50%), girls only taught sessions (41%) with female teachers (43%). A need for breast education and delivery preferences was identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

and Purpose: Breast pain is a common condition presented at breast care clinics and bras are often recommended to reduce symptoms, although criteria and pathways for obtaining appropriate bras are limited. This multi-study, randomised controlled trial (RCT) aimed to establish criteria and performance variables to prescribe bras for breast pain patients, to implement this bra prescription, and evaluate whether, compared to standard care alone, the bra prescription improves breast pain and quality of life (QoL). Eighteen breast pain patients from a UK hospital were assigned to standard care or bra prescription groups and completed the study. Bra prescription patients were prescribed a bra to wear every day for eight weeks. Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), breast pain intensity, QoL, and adherence were assessed. Between-groups there were no differences in baseline breast pain or QoL and no differences in PGIC or breast pain following the intervention. Within-groups, improvements in QoL within bra prescription patients were identified. This study developed a framework for bra prescription for breast pain patients and the intervention demonstrated improvements in QoL. • Framework identifying a range of suitable commercially-available bras established. • Improvements found in Quality of Life following 8 weeks of prescribed bra wear. • Bra prescription framework for larger-breasted women with breast pain established. • Poor recruitment and adherence of patients to intervention highlight difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]