Breast size effects on women
Descriptive (qualitative studies)
Smith et al. (2018) conducted a study to evaluate self-reported breast injuries among female athletes. The authors also explored the types of injuries and available treatment and how breast injury impacts female participation in different sports activities. To develop an effective evaluation, the study used a cross-sectional study of sports females from four different universities who participated in volleyball, football, basketball, and softball. The main outcome measure in the study was a questionnaire about the injuries which female athletes might experience. The study found out that more than half of the 194 participants reported that they experienced breast injury at least once during their athletic career. This was equivalent to 47.9% of the total participants. Less than 10% of those who had injury connected their injury to personal health issues, with 2.1% receiving treatment. Softball reported 59.5%, volleyball 34.6%, football 46.8% and basketball 48.8% of the participants. The study concluded that the long term impacts of breast injuries among female athletes during their career time are unknown. Almost 50% of all female athletes have experienced breast injury; however, 18.2% reported that the injury did not affect their participation activities.
Randomized (experimental)
A study by Lapid et al. (2013) conducted a study to evaluate the effects of reducing breast size on women’s posture with macromastia conditions. To carry out the evaluation, the authors used a prospective controlled study in a medical center. 42 patients who had undergone breast surgery to reduce their breast size in the last 4.3 years were studied. To come up with effective results, 37 healthy women were used as controls for the experimental research. Besides, consistent lateral pictures were recorded. To perform regression analysis, the inclination angle of the participant’s back was measured. After the analysis, the ventrally inclination angle was 1.61 degrees, which reduced postoperatively to 0.72 degrees ventrally. Compared with the control group, the change was not significant as the control group showed 0.28 degrees dorsally. The regression analysis showed that the inclination angle varied based on body mass index; thus, having symptomatic macromastia was based on BMI. The study concluded that the inclination angle does not account for the effects which are associated with macromastia.
Observation
Spencer (2013) conducted a study to identify the connection between breast size and thoracic spine pain among postmenopausal females. Besides, the study aimed to identify the significance of bra fit in this relationship as it is important in the future management of thoracic spine pain. To conduct the evaluation, the study used a cross-sectional study approach. 51 women who were in postmenopausal bra-wearing stages were recruited. The measures used in the study include breast size, bra fitness, and pain the women experienced. A large percentage of the participant was overweight and were wearing an inappropriately sized bra. The pain was meaningfully connected to body weight, breast size, and body weight in the study. Contrary, thoracic pain, which was self-reported, was not interrelated with the age of the participants. Women who had a large breast size had their bra professionally fitted. The study found out that increased breast size and BMI are connected with thoracic pain among women in the postmenopausal stage. Increased bra size and the approach of wearing might have biomechanical effects on the loaded thoracic spine.