Why Periods, Breasts, and Injuries Matter in Women's Sports

The Science Behind Women's Sport

As the Euros come to a close, the summer of women's sport has been marked by incredible performances on the pitch. However, behind the scenes, there is a growing scientific revolution that is reshaping how we understand the impact of elite sport on the female body.

Breast Biomechanics and Performance

One area of focus is breast biomechanics. In 2022, during the final of the European Championships, Chloe Kelly's iconic goal was followed by her removing her shirt to reveal her sports bra. This moment highlighted the importance of proper support for female athletes.

Professor Joanna Wakefield-Scurr from the University of Portsmouth, known as the Bra Professor, has conducted extensive research on this topic. Her findings show that breasts can bounce up to 11,000 times in a single football match, with an average bounce of 8cm without appropriate support. This movement can exert up to 5G of force, similar to what a Formula 1 driver experiences.

Laboratory experiments using motion sensors have shown that the shifting mass of breast tissue can alter the movement of the rest of the body, affecting sporting performance. For some women, heavy breasts can change the movement of the torso, impacting the force exerted on the ground. Compensating for this by restricting upper body movement can also affect the positioning of the pelvis and shorten each stride.

Sports bras are not just for comfort or fashion; they are essential performance gear. Research has shown that low breast support can reduce stride length by four centimeters, which adds up significantly over a marathon. Additionally, sports bras protect the delicate structures inside the breast, preventing permanent damage from stretching.

Menstrual Cycle and Athletic Performance

The menstrual cycle has a clear impact on the body, affecting emotions, mood, sleep, and causing fatigue, headaches, and cramps. Calli Hauger-Thackery, a distance runner who has represented Team GB at the Olympics, emphasizes the need to discuss the sporting impact of the menstrual cycle, which remains a taboo subject.

Calli notes that she feels fatigued and experiences heavy legs before her period, making it feel like she is running through mud. She relies heavily on her menstruation tracker, especially when preparing for big races. While she finished sixth in the Boston Marathon despite her period, she wonders if she could have performed better.

Prof Kirsty Elliott-Sale, an expert in female endocrinology and exercise physiology, highlights the individual nature of the menstrual cycle's impact on athletic performance. While there is no clear phase where one is stronger or weaker, hormonal fluctuations can affect parts of the body such as bones, muscles, and the heart. Poor sleep, fatigue, and cramping can significantly impact performance, as can the anxiety of competing during one’s period.

Injury Prevention and Women's Sports

Another critical area of research is the higher susceptibility of women to certain injuries, particularly anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Dr. Thomas Dos'Santos, a sports biomechanics researcher, notes that women are three to eight times more likely to suffer ACL injuries than men, depending on the sport.

Anatomical differences, such as wider hips in women, can affect the angle of the knee, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, ACLs are slightly smaller in women, potentially making them weaker. Hormonal changes, such as high levels of estrogen prior to ovulation, may also play a role in increasing injury risk.

However, Dr. Dos'Santos emphasizes that the issue is not solely anatomical. Women often receive less quality support and strength training compared to men. He draws a comparison to ballet, where dancers receive excellent training, resulting in minimal differences in injury rates between genders.

Research is ongoing into ways to minimize the risk of ACL injuries by training female athletes to move differently. However, some techniques that put strain on the ACL are necessary in sports like football. Dr. Dos'Santos argues that the goal is to ensure female athletes are strong enough to tolerate these loads, rather than avoiding sport altogether.

A New Era for Women in Sport

Katy Daley-McLean, former England rugby captain, recalls that when she first started playing, assumptions about her performance were based on data from male players. "We were literally treated as mini-men," she says. Today, open discussions around periods and body image are helping to improve performance and keep more women in sport.

Daley-McLean highlights that body image issues, lack of proper sports bras, and period-related concerns are significant reasons why young girls drop out of sport. Addressing these issues is crucial for creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for female athletes.

The science behind women's sport continues to evolve, offering new insights and solutions to enhance performance and prevent injuries. As research progresses, the future of women's sport looks brighter than ever.