Jenny Burbage, breast health and bra requirements for active occupations

Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network Podcast

In this podcast, I chat with Dr Jenny Burbage, who is a senior lecturer in biomechanics and part of the Research Group in Breast Health within the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science at the University of Portsmouth. Her research focuses on biomechanics, health and education related to the female breast, and she is one of the few world experts in this area. She is passionate about ensuring functional breast support and comfort for workers, especially when additional equipment needs to be worn (e.g., body armour), and increasing breast health education for all.

We talk about the following:

• The WiSEAN conference 2024. Overview of speakers, programme and social events.
• The 2019 podcast with Jenny and Brogan Horler (https://www.wisean.net/podcast/episode/3230b1fe/dr-jenny-burbage-and-miss-brogan-horler-on-breast-health-bra-fitting-and-breast-support-for-the-exercising-female), where we talked about exercise-related breast pain, incorrect bra, incorrect fitting, bra-fitting techniques, changes in the breast through the lifetime particularly important for fit and the three types of sports bra.
• Recent research on bra requirements for active occupations.
• Bra requirements for women in active occupations, namely with British Army basic training recruits but also other occupations, e.g., police service, fire service. Activities involved in basic training and hence bra needs for these. Importance of correct bra and fit for these occupations.
• Other issues due to active occupations, e.g., whether individuals might avoid active occupations due to e.g., bra size. Bra preferences in other countries.
• The importance of breast health education/breast health and messages according to audience (e.g., bra manufacturers versus athletes).
• Future research goals and desires.
• Issues encountered regarding dismissal of breast health not being important. How far sports/exercise bra research has come.