Sports women can do a lot of damage to their breasts, whether by a direct blow, repetitive trauma or nipple problems. In fact, studies have shown that up to 56% of women experience breast pain when exercising. Read on and find out about the injuries that wearing a good sports bra could help you prevent.
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A cross section of the breast
“If one considers the anatomy of the female breast, we see that it is composed mainly of fatty tissue with mammary glands,” explains Kathleen Mc Quaide health promotions manager at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa in Cape Town.
“The breast rests on the pectoral muscles of the chest, but these are deep and don’t offer much support. Coopers ligaments help to hold the breasts up. They are thin, weak bands that are interwoven into the breast and are therefore subject to stretching.”
What happens if one doesn’t wear a sports bra?
“If the breasts are not properly supported with a good sports bra,” explains Mc Quaide, “then repetitive bouncing and movement from side to side, during exercise, can stretch the Coopers ligaments permanently resulting in drooping breasts. This problem is exaggerated in large-breasted women.”
“Inadequately supported breasts during exercise can also lead to tension and strain in the neck and upper back (again particularly in large breasted women).” Mc Quaide continues, “The excess weight that the woman carries in the front, results in strain being put on the back muscles, as they try to keep the shoulders in the correct position.”
Common breast injuries
Womens’ sport is getting more and more aggressive and competitive and is being played at professional levels. Extreme sports, martial arts, soccer and mountain biking are all terrains where women are taking men on at their own game. But in the process their breasts may be taking a battering.
There are three main breast injuries, namely those caused by repetitive trauma and direct trauma and a condition known as "joggers nipple."
Repetitive trauma
Any sport that requires continuous running, causes the breasts to bounce around. This not only results in pain from the trauma of the excessive movement, but could also permanently stretch the tender Coopers ligaments, giving the sportswoman droopy breasts in the long-run.
Women whose breasts are not properly supported by a sports bra may experience tension and strain in the neck and upper back.
This is particularly apparent in women with larger breasts where the tension is a result of the back muscles having to work harder to keep the shoulders in the correct position to support the excess weight at the front.
Continuous stress on these muscles will eventually make them weak and stretched, causing more permanent neck and back pain.
What you can do about it
Wear the right sports bra that supports your breasts and prevents any vertical and horizontal movement.
Saggy breast syndrome is permanent, so prevention is better than cure.
A correct posture with your shoulders back will help relieve back pain.
Get a regular sports massage to relieve tension in the muscles.
Injuries resulting from direct trauma
With the fast pace of many womens’ sports nowadays, women should really be wearing “breast boxes” (like the cricketer’s box, but over our sensitive areas!) Being hit on the boob by a ball, a hockey stick or even an opponent can cause a painful contusion (bleeding inside the muscle or the breast).
What can you do about it
To prevent such injuries or at least to soften the blow, wear a sports bra that has extra padding for protection. In certain contact sports, such as martial arts, women can wear a plastic cupped bra over their top.
If it has already happened, immediately apply ice to the area.
If the injury is really bad, go straight to a doctor who will aspirate the injury, by sucking out the fluid with a needle.
Joggers Nipple
"Joggers nipple is a friction injury caused by the constant rubbing of the breasts against the fabric with each stride, resulting in painful chafing of the nipples,” explains Mc Quaide. It is more common in men though and is more likely in cold, wet weather.
What can you do about it
Wear a good sports bra with anti-chafe features such as breathable fabrics, covered fastenings and wide shoulder straps.
Apply petroleum jelly to the nipples or cover them with zinc oxide tape before a run.
If your nipples are sore, you might have to stop training for a short while so that they can heal.
Sports bras are clearly the answer to preventing breast injuries, so buy yours now at www.brashop.co.za.
Sports women can do a lot of damage to their breasts, whether by a direct blow, repetitive trauma or nipple problems. In fact, studies have shown that up to 56% of women experience breast pain when exercising. Read on and find out about the injuries that wearing a good sports bra could help you prevent.
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