title: The effect of breast support on upper body muscle activity during 5 km treadmill running.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Spinnaker Building, University of Portsmouth, PO1 2ER, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milligan
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Spinnaker Building, University of Portsmouth, PO1 2ER, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Spinnaker Building, University of Portsmouth, PO1 2ER, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scurr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000502:physiology*; D003020:Clothing; D057645:Deltoid Muscle / Q000502:physiology; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004576:Electromyography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D064171:Superficial Back Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Electromyography; Female runners; Sports bra