the period of the period.

Sport & exercise are for everyone... aren’t they? Society has probably led us to believe that women and sport & exercise don’t mix. But recently there has been a rise in the number of women participating in exercise, from physical activity to elite sport and because of this our understanding on how to optimise female health and performance in sport and exercise must also increase. However, at the moment there is a lack of awareness, evidenced-based education and support surrounding female-specific performance and health considerations, from the menstrual cycle to hormonal contraceptives, alongside, breast health, pelvic floor health, pregnancy and the menopause. This podcast is here to change this narrative and discuss all the female-specific topics that have went relatively under the radar for so long.

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the period of the period.

SE1 EP3: Boobs, breast biomechanics & sports bras.

March 22, 2021 • Kelly McNulty/ Jenny Burbage/ Nikki Brown • Season 1 • Episode 3

On this episode I am joined by Dr Jenny Burbage and Dr Nikki Brown. Jenny is an Associate Professor in the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science at Portsmouth University. Her primary research area is in breast biomechanics and breast health, with interests in breast pain, poor bra fit, the function of breast support and the effect of breast support on performance. Nikki is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Sport, Health and Performance Science at St Mary’s University. Recent projects Nikki has been involved in include investigation of sports bra use, sports bra preferences, breast pain and bra fit issues in exercising females, as well as breast education of adolescent girls. In this episode we discuss the anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics of the breasts and what this might mean for sport and exercise, the potential influence of the breasts on participation and performance in sport and exercise, and practical tips for ensuring the best fit for sports bras.

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a rating and review, and please share with your teammates, coaches, friends, and family!

Resources: Dr Jenny Burbage: Info: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/jenny-burbage | ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jenny-Burbage | Twitter: @jenny_burbage

Dr Nikki Brown: Info: https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/staff-directory/nicola-brown | ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicola-Brown-19 | Twitter: @DrNikkiBrown

Additional resources: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/research-centres-and-groups/research-group-in-breast-health | https://www.treasureyourchest.org/

Season 1 of the podcast is kindly sponsored by Umi Health. Umi Health are on a mission to make pelvic health accessible to every woman, everywhere. Exclusively for the listeners Umi Health are offering a 7-day free trial - all you need to do is go to their website and enter the code PERIOD at either sign up or upgrade. For more information: www.umi-health.com| Insta @umihealth | Twitter: @HealthUmi | Facebook: @UmiHealthLtd

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*Disclaimer: Material and content discussed on The Period of The Period Podcast are intended for general information only and should not be substituted for medical advice*.

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