A new study on the need for suitable bras for female riders says
Despite the fact that statistics show that the number of women participating in horseback riding is significantly higher, dedicated research on women in this sport remains relatively scarce.
However, a pioneering new study in collaboration with Hartpury University in Gloucestershire, England, has provided new findings on breast movement and support in female riders; findings that could aid in the future design of sports bras specifically for equestrian activities.
"The Biomechanical and Perceptual Effects of Breast Support During Riding and Running in Female Riders" has recently been published in the International Journal of Equine Sciences.
This article is part of the ongoing collaboration between Hartpury University, the Sparsholt College research center in Hampshire, England, and the Breast Health Research Group at the University of Portsmouth in Portsmouth, England.
This is the first three-dimensional study to measure breast movement in female riders and also the first research to compare this movement with running in the same participants.
This aspect of the study was of great importance, as a large portion of previous research on sports bras has primarily focused on runners.
The researchers also specifically examined riders' perceptions of comfort, performance, and the appearance of the bra in equestrian activities.
Lorna Cameron, a senior lecturer at Hartpury University, noted that breast health and proper support can have a significant impact on women's participation in sports, but historically, relatively little research has been conducted on the specific needs of riders.
Cameron said, "What makes this study particularly exciting is that we have been able to quantify the relative amount of breast movement in three dimensions while riding and directly compare it to running in the same participants.
This gives us a much better understanding of how the requirements of riding differ from an activity that a large portion of existing research and sports bra designs have been based on."
How the study was conducted: The researchers asked 21 female riders to ride on a horse simulator—a mechanical device that mimics the movements of a live horse—at walk, trot, and canter, as well as run on a treadmill; all while wearing four different breast support conditions.
These conditions included a cup-style sports bra with two separate cups that lift and separate each breast; a combination sports bra that blends the features of a cup-style bra with a compression sports bra— which acts by compressing the breasts against the chest; an everyday bra; and a condition with no breast support at all.
Using motion capture technology, the researchers were able to assess the relative displacement of the breast as well as the rider's posture.
Breast pain due to activity and the comfort level of the bra were also measured, and participants completed a questionnaire to evaluate the performance and aesthetic features of the bra.
The study found that the type of bra used significantly affected activity-related breast pain, the rider's posture, and her symmetry.
Both types of sports bras, compared to the everyday bra or no breast support, reduced breast movement and pain during trotting and running.
Improvements in upper body posture during trotting were also observed when using sports bras, and riders exhibited the greatest symmetry when wearing the cup-style sports bra.
In this study, 21 women active in equestrian sports rode on a horse simulator at walk, trot, and canter, and also ran on a treadmill; this was done in four different breast support conditions: a cup sports bra, a combined sports bra, a daily bra, and no breast support.
Cameron said, "Our findings also indicate that breast support is not just limited to comfort.
The type of support used was associated with differences in breast pain, rider posture, and symmetry, making this area an important field for further research.
" Researchers found that individual preferences regarding bra comfort vary; a topic that highlights the complexity of choosing appropriate breast support for women active in equestrian sports.
This latest article builds on a growing body of collaborative research on breast health and equestrian sports.
Previous studies involving members of this research team examined topics including breast pain, concerns related to bras and barriers to participation for female riders, as well as the impact of breast health education for young riders.
Cameron said, "We hope this research leads to more dialogue about breast health in equestrian sports and ultimately helps improve information and the production of products designed with the special needs of riders in mind.
" Researchers say that larger, longer-term, and field-based studies are now needed to complement these new findings.
You can read the full text of this study here.
Source: Practical Horseman – Health