title: The effect of breast support and breast pain on upper-extremity kinematics during running: implications for females with large breasts.
abstract: The relationship between inappropriate breast support and upper-extremity kinematics for female runners is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of breast support and breast pain on upper-extremity kinematics during running. Eleven female recreational runners with larger breasts (UK D and E cup) completed a 7 min 20 s treadmill run (2.58 m · s(-1)) in a high and low breast support condition. Multi-planar breast and upper-extremity kinematic data were captured in each breast support condition by eight infrared cameras for 30 s towards the end of the run. Breast pain was rated at the end of each treadmill run using a numeric analogue scale. The high support bra reduced breast kinematics and decreased breast pain (P < 0.05). Upper-extremity kinematics did not differ between breast support conditions (P > 0.05), although some moderate positive correlations were found between thorax range of motion and breast kinematics (r = 0.54 to 0.73). Thorax and arm kinematics do not appear to be influenced by breast support level in female runners with large breasts. A high support bra that offers good multi-planar breast support is recommended for female runners with larger breasts to reduce breast pain.
authors: a Department of Sport & Exercise Science , University of Portsmouth , Portsmouth , UK.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: White
authors: a Department of Sport & Exercise Science , University of Portsmouth , Portsmouth , UK.
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Mills
authors: b Faculty of Health , University of Canberra , Canberra , Australia.
authors: Nick
authors: N
authors: Ball
authors: a Department of Sport & Exercise Science , University of Portsmouth , Portsmouth , UK.
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Scurr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001940:Breast / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D003020:Clothing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059373:Mastodynia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009068:Movement; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D060726:Torso / Q000502:physiology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: biomechanics; bra; kinematics; pain; performance