JOINT DISPLACEMENTS AND PEAK ACHILLES TENDON FORCE DURING IRISH DANCING-SPECIFIC LANDING TASKS

Achilles tendinopathy is prevalent among Irish dancers, thought to be due to the high impact, stiff-style landing tasks associated with the sport. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sagittal plane joint displacements, at the ankle, knee, hip and thorax segment, and peak Achilles tendon force during an Irish dancing ‘leap over’ landing task. Kinetic and kinematic data were collected for 12 participants performing the ‘leap over’, and used to calculate peak Achilles tendon force and joint displacements. Results of the study found a statistically significant positive correlation between ankle dorsiflexion and peak Achilles tendon force during the ‘leap over’. These findings can be used to inform future research into the effect of joint displacement on peak Achilles tendon force, and to develop strategies to help dancers reduce their risk of developing Achilles tendinopathy

Barriers and enablers to participation in physical activity among women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death among gynecological cancers, with low survival rates and a high disease burden. Despite the known benefits, most women reduce their participation in physical activity following diagnosis. Little is known about ovarian cancer survivors' experiences of physical activity. The primary aim of this study was to explore the barriers and enablers to participation in physical activity among women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. A qualitative descriptive study design was conducted via semi-structured interviews with nine women diagnosed with ovarian cancer (stages I-IV; 40-77 years). The interviews took place at the participant's home via telephone or online video conferencing software Coviu©. An inductive thematic approach was used. The organization and coding of data were completed using NVivo computer software (Version 12.6.0, QSR International Pty Ltd.). Weekly discussions occurred among the research team to ensure that themes accurately represented participant views. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ) 32-item checklist were followed. The main barriers to physical activity participation that emerged were (i) the lack of referral to an exercise professional within the multidisciplinary cancer team, (ii) fear of injury after surgery and during treatment, and (iii) treatment-related side effects. However, many of the participants perceived benefits of physical activity related to (i) enhanced physical and psychological health, (ii) improved cancer outcomes, and (iii) social benefits as key enablers of physical activity participation. Physical activity interventions for women with ovarian cancer should address the modifiable barriers identified in this study. A key focus should be to streamline timely referral pathways within the multidisciplinary team, including exercise professionals, dietitians, psychologists, and specialists nurses following a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Further research and service development are needed to optimize supported self-management through (i) education about the importance of physical activity to both healthcare professionals and women alike, (ii) enhanced symptom management for women, which was identified as a barrier to participation, and (iii) the development of shared care plans and patient center goals to address any fears or concerns. People diagnosed with ovarian cancer have low participation levels of physical activity. Cancer care professionals' support could increase physical activity uptake and reduce some of the burden of an ovarian cancer diagnosis

Breast characteristics of Australian women

Background: Insufficient breast support from an ill-fitting bra is a known barrier to participating in physical activity. Improvements to current bra designs are necessary in order to improve breast support and bra fit for women. Research question: The overall aim of this thesis was to quantify the breast characteristics of Australian women across the breast size spectrum upon which to develop evidence-based recommendations to improve bra designs for these women. Methods: Two separate biomechanical studies were conducted, which are presented in four thesis parts. In the first part of this thesis a valid and reliable method to quantify the volume of large and ptotic breasts was determined and subsequently used in Study 2. The second part of the thesis collected comprehensive three-dimensional breast volume, shape and skin data in order to characterise the breasts of a large cohort of Australian women across varying age and body mass index (BMI) ranges (Chapters 3, 4 and 5). The third part of the thesis utilised objective data on the breasts and upper torsos of women (breast volume, shape and skin; structure and function of the upper torso and physical activity levels), as well as upper torso musculoskeletal pain scores to explore predictors of musculoskeletal pain in the upper torso (Chapter 6). The fourth and final part of this thesis utilised professional bra fit criteria to establish the impact of current bra design components upon incorrect bra fit (Chapter 7). Major conclusion: Based on the results of this thesis, six evidence-based recommendations have been made for future bra designs. Bra designers and manufacturers can use these recommendations, in conjunction with data collated in this thesis, to improve bra designs for Australian women. Incorporating such evidence-based data could substantially improve the fit of breast support garments and, therefore, the ability of these garments to properly support the breasts of women. Enhanced bra fit and breast support will, in turn, enable women to participate in physical activity in comfort

How much error is associated with calculating breast volume from three-dimensional breast scans obtained when women are standing? Implications for bra design and bra fit

Background: A lying prone position is recommended when scanning women’s breasts to ensure the entire breast can be visualised. However, several large databases contain three-dimensional scans of women’s breasts and torsos that were obtained while the women were standing. This study aimed to establish the error associated with calculating breast volume from three-dimensional breast scans taken when women were standing relative to lying prone. Methods: Breast volume was derived for 378 women with Small, Medium, Large and Hypertrophic breast sizes from scans taken while the women were standing and then lying prone. Results: The magnitude of error associated with breast volume derived from scans obtained while women stood compared to lying prone, ranged from ∼8–22% and increased with increasing breast size. Conclusion: Errors associated with breast volume data derived from breast scans collected while women stand must be accounted for, particularly for women with Medium, Large and Hypertrophic breast sizes. Practitioner summary: This original research provides evidence for bra designers and manufacturers on the degree of error associated when using breast scans obtained while women were standing, such as those scans readily available in large scanning databases. These errors increase with increasing breast size and must be accounted for when sizing and designing bra cups

Effects of obesity on breast size, thoracic spine structure and function, upper torso musculoskeletal pain and physical activity in women

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of obesity on breast size, thoracic spine structure and function, upper torso musculoskeletal pain and physical activity participation in women living independently in the community. Methods: A total of 378 women were divided into 3 groups (Not Overweight: body mass index (BMI) = 22.5 ± 0.2 kg/m2 (mean ± SE); Overweight: BMI = 27.4 ± 0.3 kg/m2; Obese: BMI = 35.4 ± 0.3 kg/m2). Outcome variables of breast volume (mL), thoracic flexion torque (Nm), thoracic kyphosis (degrees), upper torso musculoskeletal pain (score) and time spent in physical activity (min) were calculated and compared among the 3 groups, adjusting for between-groups differences in age. Results: There was a significant main effect of BMI on all outcome variables. Participants classified as Obese displayed significantly larger breasts, had greater thoracic flexion torques and reported less time participating in physical activity relative to the participants who were classified as Not Overweight and Overweight. Participants in the Obese group also displayed significantly more thoracic kyphosis and reported significantly more upper torso musculoskeletal pain compared to their counterparts who were classified as Not Overweight. Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate that increased obesity levels were associated with compromised kyphosis and loading of the thoracic spine, as well as increased symptoms of upper torso musculoskeletal pain and reduced time spent in physical activity in women living in the community. We recommend further research to determine whether evidence-based interventions designed to reduce the flexion torque generated on the thoracic spine can improve these symptoms of upper torso musculoskeletal pain and the ability of women with obesity to participate in physical activity

Does breast size affect how women participate in physical activity?

Objectives: Research has shown that women with large breasts experience increased breast motion, which can act as a barrier to participating in physical activity. Despite this evidence, limited research has investigated the effect of breast size on physical activity participation. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: 355 Australian women (aged 18-75 years) who volunteered as participants were divided into four breast size groups (small, medium, large and hypertrophic). All participants completed the Active Australia Survey to assess their participation in physical activity in the previous week, and were asked to indicate whether they agreed or disagreed that their breast size affected their participation in physical activity. Participant responses to time spent in each type of activity were compared across the four breast size groups using an ANCOVA design, controlling for age. Results: Participants with hypertrophic breasts participated in significantly less total physical activity per week, particularly less vigorous-intensity physical activity, compared to their counterparts with smaller breasts. Participants with large breasts also participated in less vigorous-intensity physical activity compared to participants with small and with medium breasts, and a high percentage of women with large and with hypertrophic breasts perceived their breast size to affect the amount and intensity of physical activity they performed. Conclusions: Breast size should be acknowledged as a potential barrier to women participating in physical activity. Strategies to assist women with large and hypertrophic breasts participate in all types and intensities of physical activity are needed so women can enjoy the health benefits associated with an active lifestyle

Effects of age and body mass index on breast characteristics: a cluster analysis

Limited research has quantified variation in the characteristics of the breasts among women and determined how these breast characteristics are influenced by age and body mass. The aim of this study was to classify the breasts of women in the community into different categories based on comprehensive and objective measurements of the characteristics of their breasts and torsos, and to determine the effect of age and body mass index on the prevalence of these breast categories. Four breast characteristic clusters were identified (X-Large, Very-ptotic & Splayed; Large, Ptotic & Splayed; Medium & Mildly-ptotic; and Small & Non-ptotic), with age and BMI shown to significantly affect the breast characteristic clusters. These results highlight the difference in breast characteristics exhibited among women and how these clusters are affected by age and BMI. The breast characteristic clusters identified in this study could be used as a basis for future bra designs and sizing systems in order to improve bra fit for women. Practitioner summary: This original research provides evidence for bra designers and manufacturers on the diverse breast characteristics exhibited by women within the population and the significant effect that both body mass index and age have on the breast characteristic clusters. Future bra designs should consider the variation in breast characteristics among women

Bra-body armour integration, breast discomfort and breast injury associated with wearing body armour

This study investigated whether female soldiers experience bra integration or breast discomfort/injuries related to body armour use and whether these issues were associated with breast size. Ninety-seven Australian Defence Force female soldiers completed a questionnaire and had their breast volume assessed (range: 91–919 ml/breast) using three-dimensional scanning. Twenty-two percent (n = 21) of participants reported integration issues between their bra and body armour, 63% (n = 61) reported breast discomfort while wearing body armour and 27% (n = 26) reported experiencing a breast injury related to wearing body armour. Although bra-body armour integration was not dependent upon breast size, female soldiers with medium-large breasts reported significantly more breast discomfort and injuries when using body armour compared to participants with small breasts. These findings highlight the importance of developing body armour systems that cater to the range of breast sizes of female soldiers in order to improve bra-body armour integration and reduce breast discomfort and injury. Practitioner summary: This exploratory research provides evidence of bra integration issues, breast discomfort and breast injury experienced by female soldiers when wearing body armour. Given the growing representation of women in military organisations, strategies to alleviate these issues for female users of body armour, particularly those with larger breast sizes, are required