4 Things to Know About Female Athletes and Breast Support

 

Breast size and development is a barrier to sport and physical activity for some girls and young women, but it is a natural part of growth and development that can be managed. While breast development can be uncomfortable, and at times painful, the right support can make all the difference.

Here, Dr. Michele LaBotz, a TrueSport Expert and sports medicine specialist, is sharing what caregivers need to know to help their female athletes understand their development and find the support they need.

 

1. Understand Your Athlete's Concerns and Discomfort

We know from current research that roughly a quarter of teenage female athletes surveyed reported that breast discomfort keeps them from being physically active at least some of the time. LaBotz notes that this number is almost certainly higher, since research has found that many girls will drop out of sport before or during puberty, possibly in part due to discomfort or self-consciousness associated with breast development.

From a physical standpoint, the development of breasts can be uncomfortable for athletes, especially those in sports that involve a lot of running. LaBotz explains that the problem stems from breast movement during sport. "For most running sports, athletes are running at cadences of about 160 steps per minute, which adds up to 9,600 bounces per hour," she says. "For a young woman with a D cup, the amount of vertical displacement for breasts with every bounce can be up to eight inches. That is a lot of movement, so it’s no surprise that could be uncomfortable." LaBotz notes that research found that 58 percent of subjects with a C cup or larger reported that lack of support or soreness prevented them from exercising, while for smaller cup sizes, the number decreased to 20 percent.

In addition to the potential for physical discomfort, studies have shown that breast movement associated with physical activity is psychologically uncomfortable for many girls as well. Your athlete's feelings of discomfort are valid—but this discomfort due to a lack of support is a problem that can be solved.

 

2. Help Your Athlete See Puberty as a Positive

LaBotz notes that in females, puberty produces changes in body composition and center of gravity that may impact athletic performance. Help your athlete understand that while these changes can feel uncomfortable in the short term, it's positive in the long term from a health, strength, and even performance perspective. Trying to 'control' puberty and avoid weight gain and breast development is a dangerous proposition that can lead to long term health struggles and decreased performance.

 

3. Help Deal With the Physical Discomfort

Help your athlete view any breast discomfort the same way she would view any other minor soreness and discomfort. Treatment for breast discomfort is similar to other types of activity-related soreness: a heating pad can be applied to the chest or back area where the discomfort is most prominent, and rest is equally important, says LaBotz. She also adds that a compression shirt that offers gentle compression for the shoulders and upper arms along with the back and torso may ease feelings of discomfort. Foam rolling or massage to the back and shoulders may also help release tension in the supporting muscles. Doing “snow angels” over a foam roller often feels good and can help stretch out chest muscles that have become tight or sore.

But more importantly, athletes and caregivers should be focused on prevention, and that's where the right sports bra comes in.