RELATIONSHIP OF FEMALE BREASTS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, EXERCISE AND SPORT - Part 1

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: The women are increasingly seeking to be physically active or even choose sports as their professional activity as in the years, the number of Summer Olympic athletes has equaled that of men. Due to this growing female participation in sports, the study of female and male differences has become increasingly relevant in the involvement of the academic world. Objective: A review on this subject, stimulating more research, and making knowledge reach more women is a major objective of this literature review. We understand that more studies are needed to understand pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment. Methods: The study design was a retrospective narrative review of the relationship between breasts and physical activity, exercise, and sports. Results: Several anthropometric and physiological differences have been established; however, the volume and shape of the female breast is peculiar but still little studied. The specificity of female breasts are conditions that can exert sports performance and contribute to distancing women from physical activity practice. Conclusion: Possible conditions of female breasts in sports are exercise-induced mastalgia, breast injury, nipple injury, pregnancy, and many others. We understand that more studies are needed to understand pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment. Level of Evidence II; Retrospective Narrative Review.