Author(s): ERRINGTON, C., TARNOWSKI, C.A., ROLLO, I., QAQAYA, N.Y., HELSEN, W.F., PAINES, E., JONES, M., BURBAGE, J., Institution: GATORADE SPORTS SCIENCE INSTITUTE, Country: UNITED KINGDOM, Abstract-ID: 1264

INTRODUCTION:
Many elite female athletes (83%) report below-average breast and bra knowledge. Interventions in elite female athletes, including education sessions and individual bra assessments, can improve breast and bra knowledge, as well as breast pain and comfort. This can subsequently improve sport performance. However, to date, there is no information regarding interventions in elite match officials, despite being exposed to similar training and competition demands as athletes, whilst also wearing additional devices on their upper body. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand the breast/bra knowledge and breast comfort of female soccer officials, and evaluate the impact of an education session and individual bra assessment.
METHODS:
Nineteen elite female soccer match officials (age: 38 ± 5 y) attended a 1 h online breast/bra health education session, followed by an individual bra assessment with a trained professional. Each match official was then provided with a new high-support sports bra. A questionnaire was administered before the intervention (PRE) and four weeks after the intervention (POST). The PRE questionnaire assessed variables such as previous sports bra fitting experience, interaction of wearable devices with sports bras, breast/bra knowledge (1=extremely poor, 5=excellent) and breast pain (0=no pain, 10=worst possible pain). The POST questionnaire repeated the assessment of breast/bra knowledge, and compared their old vs. new sports bra in terms of fit (0=does not fit at all, 10=perfect fit), support (0=very unsupportive, 10=very supportive) and breast pain. PRE and POST data were compared using a paired samples t-test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Data are shown as (mean ± SD, range).
RESULTS:
Breast/bra knowledge increased from PRE (3 ± 1, 1-5) to POST intervention (4 ± 1, 3-5) (p < 0.05). PRE data found that 32% of elite match officials experience breast pain, with a pain severity rating of 4/10, and that 37% experience problems with wearing a sports bra due to interference from upper body wearable devices. 74% of match officials had never been fitted professionally for a sports bra prior to the intervention. POST data demonstrated a 30% improvement in fit of the new sports bra (8.5 ± 1.7) vs. their old sports bra (6.6 ± 1.9) and a 28% improvement in support (6.7 ± 2.0 to 8.6 ± 1.0, respectively, all p < 0.05). The new sports bra reduced breast pain by 20% vs. the old sports bra (2.6 ± 2.5 vs. 1.1 ± 1.7, respectively, p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION:
The education session and individual bra assessment successfully improved the breast/bra knowledge of the elite female soccer match officials. Provision of a new high-support sports bra improved fit and support, subsequently reducing breast pain. The finding that upper body wearable devices interfere with sports bra comfort in this population warrants further investigation to identify potential solutions.