Did you know that your breasts can cause pain and even impact your pelvic floor?
Breasts are incredibly heavy, the average breast weighs 1.15kg (each!). This means that the female body has a much heavier torso, than their male counterparts. We know that breasts can cause pain – but what can we do about it?
Why breasts can cause pain…
The average breast weighs 1.15kg each and is supported solely by your skin (nope, not your chest muscles!). That’s a lot of weight to be hanging down on you!
BUT, research has shown that wearing a correctly fitted bra along with physiotherapy can improve posture, reduce back and neck pain AND reduce incontinence!
The problem? Over 90% of women are wearing the wrong bra size/fit!
Hang on, why is a pelvic health physiotherapist talking about bras?
Breasts can cause pain (and so can your bra!)
Breasts can cause pain due to their weight. But weight is something that is never talked about despite there being a steady increase of 40% in breast reduction surgery in the UK alone! Heavy breasts can cause lower back, neck and upper back pain and can lead to a curved/slouched posture which can further cause pain.
But, did you know that poorly supported breasts can also have an impact on your pelvic floor??
Breasts and the pelvic floor
A heavy, poorly supported weight on our chest can literally drag us down. Over time, as we get older, we may start to adopt a more bent over posture – subconsciously bowing down to our breast weight. Research has started to link a more slouched posture in women with poorly supported breasts (aka – badly fitting bras) to a whole plethora of problems, including breathing problems, abrasions and breast pain.
On top of this (no pun intended!) this slumped posture has a knock on affect throughout our body. Breasts can cause pain because they make it harder to breathe. And they can cause mid and lower back pain. This also affects our pelvis position, making it tip forwards. And, if you tip the pelvis forward, more pressure is put at the front pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder. So they work much harder than the back muscles.
Over time, they can become overloaded and tense, leading to leaks. Or they can become fatigued, which can also lead to leaks.
Yet despite this fairly long list of health concerns, pain and leaking, millions of us continue to wear the wrong size bra.
Boobs and exercise
Breasts can cause pain when we exercise. In fact, recent research from Portsmouth University’s Research Group in Breast Health (RGBH) has found that poorly supported breasts move during exercise. They can move from 15cm to as much as 21cm at a time when running! That’s almost the same distance as from your wrist to your elbow! With every bounce, there is an increased force on your pelvic floor, which can cause you to leak.
This lack of breast support and the difficulty in finding a bra that fits correctly cause many women to avoid exercising. Often this is due to their painful breasts, embarrassment about the excessive breast movement and a fear of leaking.
Doing pelvic floor exercises can help strengthen your pelvic floor. It’s equally important to support your breasts and change your posture as this can have a bigger effect on your pelvic floor than kegels alone.
The “correct fit”
It goes without saying that women’s health is massively overlooked/not given enough attention in healthcare. And, the same goes for breast support and being fitted correctly for a bra.
Many high street stores offer bra fitting services. But you might not want to purchase from them. Or, perhaps you’ll simply prefer to measure yourself at home. The good news is this is possible, and easier than ever! Boob or Bust offer a handy breast measuring service online. It’s quick and easy to use. And, best of all, it’s free of charge! Once you’ve measured yourself correctly, you can take your bra size to your favourite store and buy a bra in the correct size.
This will improve your posture, reduce excessive bounce and help reduce any pain and leaks. So it’s a very important thing to do and a valuable use of your time!
Breasts can cause pain, but there’s a lot you can do to overcome this.
How Physiotherapy can help
At Thrive Physiotherapy, we empower women to move fearlessly, free from pain and leaks. We offer a range of services tailored to your particular needs. Our women only clinics are safe, welcoming and inclusive. You’ll always be listened to and understood. And you’ll receive the best possible care by a team of experienced and empathetic Physiotherapists.
Get in touch to book a consultation.