THE EFFECTS OF A DOUBLE BREAST MASTECTOMY ON UPPER BODY POSITION DURING SIMULATED HORSEBACK RIDING: A CASE STUDY

The aim of this case study was to investigate the effect of a prophylactic double breast mastectomy on upper body position during simulated horseback riding. One participant (age 41 years; height: 1.8 m; mass 90 kg), an advanced dressage rider, volunteered to be tested pre- and post-surgery (112 days apart). A digital camera (50 Hz) collected kinematic data from the upper body during simulated trotting and cantering. Trunk and elbow angles (°) and vertical displacement (mm) of the hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist were analysed over four stride cycles and compared between the pre- and post-surgery testing sessions. Results suggest that there was greater trunk and elbow extension and a decrease in vertical excursion of the upper body post-surgery, which could affect performance in dressage. This information may aid rehabilitation in horse riders who have undergone breast mastectomy surgery

FORCE ASYMMETRY DURING ISOMETRIC CONTRACTIONS FOLLOWING ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

The aim of this study was to compare isometric strength asymmetry in participants that have previously undergone anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and a healthy control group. Three-dimensional force data (1000 Hz) were collected from 21 ACL (3.2 ± 1.8 years post-surgery) and 21 control participants during maximal isometric contractions. Peak knee flexion force displayed significant asymmetry differences between groups, with ACL participants showing greater asymmetry (7.6 %) than the control group (0.1 %). No significant asymmetry differences were found between groups for peak extension, adduction and internal rotation force. Results suggest that following ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation, external force production during knee flexion is significantly less on the affected side than the uninjured side, which has implications on rehabilitation monitoring

BREAST MOVEMENT ASYMMETRY DURING RUNNING: IMPLICATIONS ON BREAST SUPPORT

This study aimed to investigate 1) the prevalence and magnitude of breast movement asymmetry, 2) the interaction between static and dynamic breast asymmetry during running and 3) the influence of sports bras on breast asymmetry. Nipple position data were collected from 167 female participants whilst treadmill running and then from a sub-group of twelve participants running in different bra conditions. Breast movement asymmetry was present in 74% of participant during running, with greater resultant static breast position asymmetry for participants that displayed asymmetry whilst running. Asymmetry was most commonly caused (65 - 80%) by greater movement of the left than right breast. Sports bras reduced asymmetry prevalence to as few as 17% of participants in the antero-posterior direction but only 58% in the infero-superior direction

Lower Limb Biomechanics Before and After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: a Systematic Review

This review aimed to synthesise the findings of literature that have assessed the changes in lower limb biomechanics following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery. Systematic searches of CINHAL, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and SPORTDiscus databases were run. All included studies had presented biomechanical variables pre- and post-surgery for the same participants. Articles were categorised by the analysed movement, and effect sizes were calculated. Fifty-four studies met the inclusion criteria, providing data on gait (n = 31), balance (n = 12), joint position sense (n = 5), stair ambulation (n = 4), pivoting (n = 6), and landing (n = 5). Measures of balance performance and joint position sense showed improvements from pre- to post-surgery. Changes in joint kinematics were inconsistent between studies, however increased knee flexion excursion, and reduced tibial anterior translation and internal rotation post reconstruction were identified. Joint kinetics reduced in magnitude in the early stages after surgery (≤5 weeks), then increased later in recovery (≥24 weeks). Risk of bias assessment identified most articles had a moderate or high risk (low = 5; moderate = 21; high = 11) resulting from participant retention and surgical intervention differences. The results of the review identified that although lower limb biomechanics did alter following reconstruction, few variables provided consistent results across studies and tasks. The low methodological quality of some articles may have contributed to these inconsistent findings. Alternatively, differences across studies may have resulted from individual coping strategies of participants that have previously been suggested to be present before reconstructive surgery, and future research should look to explore individual coping strategies to ACL reconstruction

Sports bra use, preferences and fit issues among exercising females in the US, UK and China

Purpose: Previous research suggests that many active females are not engaging in sports bra use, despite the positive health benefits. The aim of this study was to establish and compare sports bra use, preferences, and bra fit issues for exercising females in some of the largest and most diverse global underwear markets (US, UK and China). Design/methodology/approach: A survey covering activity levels, sports bra use and preferences, bra issues, and demographics was administered via Qualtrics and completed by 3147 physically active females (aged ≥ 18 years) from the US (n=1060), UK (n=1050) and China (n=1037). Findings: In general, participants were 25 to 29 years, 121 to 140 pounds, 34B bra size, and pre-menopausal. ‘I can’t find the right sports bra’ was the most frequent breast barrier to exercise (25.4%). Three quarters of women wore a sports bra during exercise, with significantly higher use in China (83.9%), compared to the UK (67.2%). A third of all participants reported sports bra shoulder straps ‘digging into the skin’. Sports bra preferences were; compression sports bras, with a racer back, wide straps, thick straps (in US and UK), thin straps in (China), adjustable straps and underband, no wire, maximum breast coverage (in US and UK), including nipple concealment, and with padded/moulded cups. Originality/value: Information provided on differences in sports bra use, preferences and bra issues across three major global markets could be utilised by brands and manufacturers to optimise bra marketing and fit education initiatives, and inform future sports bra design and distribution strategies