Breast support garments are ineffective at reducing breast motion during an aqua aerobics jumping exercise

The buoyant forces of water during aquatic exercise may provide a form of ‘natural’ breast support and help to minimise breast motion and alleviate exercise induced breast pain. Six larger-breasted females performed standing vertical land and water-based jumps, whilst wearing three breast support conditions. Underwater video cameras recorded the motion of the trunk and right breast. Trunk and relative breast kinematics were calculated as well as exercised induced breast pain scores. Key results showed that the swimsuit and sports bra were able to significantly reduce the superioinferior breast range of motion by 0.04 and 0.05 m, respectively, and peak velocity by 0.23 and 0.33 m/s, respectively, during land-based jumping when compared to the bare-breasted condition, but were ineffective at reducing breast kinematics during water-based jumping. Furthermore, the magnitude of the swimsuit superioinferior breast range of motion during water-based jumping was significantly greater than land-based jumping (0.13 m and 0.06 m), yet there were no significant differences in exercise induced breast pain, thus contradicting previously published relationships between these parameters on land. Furthermore, the addition of an external breast support garment was able to reduce breast kinematics on land but not in water, suggesting the swimsuit and sports bras were ineffective and improvements in swimwear breast support garments may help to reduce excessive breast motion during aqua aerobic jumping exercises

Acute changes in clinical breast measurements following bra removal:implications for surgical practice

AbstractBackgroundStable measurement of breast position is crucial for objective pre-operative planning and post-operative evaluation. In clinical practice, breast measures are often taken immediately following bra removal. However, research shows that restrictive clothing (such as a bra) can cause acute anatomical changes, leading to the hypothesis that clinical breast measures may change over time following bra removal. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to provide simple clinical guidelines for the measurement of breast position which account for any acute changes in breast position following bra removal.MethodsThirteen participants of varying breast sizes had markers attached to their thorax and nipples to determine clinical measures of sternal notch to nipple distance, internipple distance, breast projection, and vertical nipple position. The positions of these landmarks were recorded using a motion capture system during 10 min of controlled sitting following bra removal.ResultsInternipple distance and breast projection remained unchanged over 10 min, while the resultant sternal notch to nipple distance extended by 2.8 mm in 299 s (right) and 3.7 mm in 348 s (left). The greatest change occurred in the vertical nipple position, which migrated an average of 4.1 mm in 365 s (right) and 6.6 mm in 272 s (left), however, for one participant vertical migration was up to 20 mm.ConclusionsInternipple distance and breast projection can be measured first following bra removal, followed by sternal notch to nipple distance, any measures associated with the vertical nipple position should be made more than 6 min after bra removal. These guidelines have implications for breast surgery, particularly for unilateral reconstruction based on the residual breast position

MEASUREMENT OF BREAST MOTION ACROSS THE BREAST SURFACE LEADS TO BETTER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BREAST SUPPORT

Quantifying multiplanar range of motion (ROM) of multiple markers positioned on the breast surface may improve methodologies in breast biomechanics and inform bra design. Nineteen markers were positioned on the breast of 24 females. During running, the nipple marker underwent the greatest ROM of all markers on the breast. Significant differences were reported in multiplanar ROM between the nipple marker and 17 markers within the breast marker array. Furthermore, the distribution of multiplanar ROM differed across the 19 markers positioned on the breast, with the most dominant direction reported as superioinferior. It was proposed that the nipple marker is a good representative of breast motion; however the marker array may provide a more holistic approach to informing sports bra design

BREASTS BIOMECHANICS; FROM RESEARCH TO ENTERPRISE TO INDUSTRY TO CONSUMER

The purpose of this initiative was to use published breast biomechanics methods to develop a bra testing service which steamlined funder engagement, generated income and research data. Following the set up of the Bra Testing Unit (2014), testing packages were sold which establish sports bra performance. To do this, appropriately sized volunteers (n=3,612) were recruited to run bare-breasted and in various sports bras (n=301). Breast movement reduction (% support) and subjective measures, were collected and sports bra support compared across all bras tested. This initiative has streamlined engagement, generated income through 48 package sales to 25 companies worldwide (start-ups to global brands) and is self-sustaining, supporting a biomechanics researcher and offering student opportunities. The data have informed publications; supporting impact case studies. This initiative commercialises, industrialises and consumerises biomechanics research