Breast Health
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Why it Matters for Female Rugby Players
Breast health in rugby matters for two main reasons: impact and movement, as well as for our overall comfort.
Rugby, as with any contact sport, can lead to contact injuries, and these can affect our boobs too!
From a performance point of view our breasts can make a pretty big difference: if you ran a marathon against a clone of yourself, and the only difference is that you were wearing a well-fitting sports bra, you’d finish a mile ahead!
So What Are our boobs made of?
Our breasts are composed primarily of fatty tissue and glandular tissue which includes mammary ducts responsible for milk production.
There are no muscles within the breast itself, and no supporting structures that can adapt to their external environment.
Although our pectoral muscle sits under our boobs, they don’t provide structural support. The only support our breasts get is from our skin, our delicate Cooper’s ligaments which naturally stretch over time, and our sports bras!
We all get bumps and bruises playing rugby, and usually they’re nothing to worry about, but it’s worth knowing what is and isn’t a concern when it comes to our boobs.
Some breast impacts can lead to pain, swelling, bruising, scar tissue, lumps and even haematomas, which can lead to fat necrosis and may become calcified over time. These lumps can be hard to distinguish from breast cancer, so it’s important you note any breast injuries you get and that you speak to your physio just as you would with any other injury.
IMPACT: Breast Contact Injuries
Movement: Comfort & performance
Excessive breast movement during rugby can cause pain and discomfort, and for some people it can really impact their confidence as well.
Beyond comfort, breast movement has measurable effects on our performance. Reducing breast movement has been shown to improve running efficiency, increase stride length, and reduce respiratory effort, which means it’s really important to make sure you’re wearing a well fitting sports bra for optimal performance.
Check out our ultimate sports bra guide to find out which bras are best for rugby, the different types available, and how to find your perfect fit.
What the stats say
If not properly supported, breasts can move up to 15cm and accelerate faster than an F1 car.
G cups can bounce up to 14cm during activity, while A cups can bounce up to 4cm
Movement related breast pain is reported to affect up to 50% of exercising women.
Be breast aware
Our breast health isn’t just important on the rugby pitch, its crucial for our overall health too.
Regardless of the size or shape of your boobs, try to make sure you’re checking them regularly for any changes. This could include:
A lump or swelling
A change to the skin
A change in colour
Nipple changes
Rashes or crusting
Any unusual discharge
Changes in your normal breast shape or size
On its own, pain in your breasts is not usually a sign of cancer, but look out for pain in your breast or armpit that’s there all, or almost all, of the time.
Further resources
RFU Breast Health Guidance
SRU Breast Health Guidance
World Rugby Breast Health Guide
Key Takeaways
✔ Report any breast impacts to your team doctor or physio
✔ Breast movement can impact both comfort and performance
✔ Make sure your limiting breast movement effectively with a well fitting sports bra
✔ Check your breasts regularly for any changes
Meet your coach
Abi is the Lead Physiotherapist for Sale Sharks Women and specialises in Female Athlete Health, covering topics like the menstrual cycle, breast health, pelvic floor health and more.
As well as rugby-specific knowledge, Abi also has a huge amount of experience working with elite athletes across sport including with British Wheelchair Basketball and British Para Snowsport, the Olympic Alpine, Moguls, Ski Cross and Snowboard Cross teams.
About boobydoo
We are boobydoo, the sports bra experts.
We are the world’s leading authority on sports bras, providing fitting advice, education, and support to all. We will break down barriers to exercise that are associated with breast movement and health.
Our mission is to find the perfect fitting sports bra for every active woman, no matter her size or the activity she is taking part in. Over the last sixteen years, we have been on a mission to curate the world’s best range of sports bras and sizes available, and now carry hundreds of styles and cover sizes 24-54 band, A-K cup.
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