As a follow-up to the Menstrual Awareness Workshop delivered at Hampden Park earlier this year, the adidas Breaking Barriers Project and the Scottish FA recently hosted a Breast Health Workshop for players, coaches, and referees over the age of 16.
With expertise from ‘The Bra Professor,’ this workshop educated participants about breast health and the impact of proper breast support on athletic movement, even featuring a personalised bra fitting to help young players find the right support to improve comfort, performance, and long-term health.
Research has shown that 52% of women are affected by breast pain when exercising, and over 80% of women wear ill-fitting sports bras. Pain or embarrassment from breast movement deters many women and girls from exercising, leading to many dropping out of sport altogether.
Breast movement can significantly impact performance. During an average football match, a player’s breasts will bounce 11,000 times, influencing the frequency of breath, the biomechanics of athletic technique, and stride length.
Scottish FA Head of Girls’ and Women’s Football, Shirley Martin, said: “It’s great to be able to deliver events like this, which are aimed at supporting young athletes, coaches, and referees on the issues that have potentially been considered taboo in the past.
"We all know breast support is essential, but do we really understand the impact that ill-fitting sports bras can have on performance?
"It’s events like this in partnership with adidas that can help us understand these small margins that can have a big impact on the way a player feels, from confidence to comfort.”