Goingbraless 2004-7 (Old Board - for Archive Only)

[Liberty]

Unfortunately good research into bras is relatively lacking. See also
http://goingbraless.net/Forum/viewtopic.php?p=4209#4209

Plastic Surgeons Find Bras Probably Cause Unnecessary Surgery

A Greenbaum
An investigation of the suitability of bra fit in women referred for reduction mammaplasty
British Journal of Plastic Surgery 56: 230-6, 2003

British Plastic Surgeons in Manchester studied 103 women referred to them for surgery to reduce their breast size (reduction mammaplasty) because of pain.

Only one woman was bra free. Of the other 102 all were wearing the wrong size bra. Adam Greenbaum, the lead author suggested that properly fitting bras might replace the need for cosmetic surgery for breast pain in large breasts.

[Liberty]

Bras May Be Bad For You

Researchers from the University of Western Sydney, in Australia are investigating reports about the possible bad effects of bras on your health.

They are studying the effect of bras on women's breathing, blood pressure and the fluid drainage from their breasts.

They have had an overwhelming response from women. They are looking at women with a C cup or larger.
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,5842975%255E13762,00.html
(not working at present)

http://www.abc.net.au/canberra/stories/m527193.ram
Real Player Audio Link: Interesting interview

Essiba Small To bra or no to bra? Trinidad Guardian Thursday 24th February, 2005
http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-02-24/features1.html

STUDY ON HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF BRA-WEARING TO BE LAUNCHED

Osteopathy students Angie Bruce, Lee Muddle and Fiona Peat of the University of Western Sydney (UWS) will conduct a groundbreaking research to determine the health risks of wearing a bra. The researchers are now looking for 50 women to take part in the study.

The women are planning to examine the physiological differences in women when wearing a bra and when they are not. In particular, they want to find out how the constrictions of a bra affect fluid drainage in the breast and how the findings could be related to breast cancer.

"Research shows that just under 50 percent of breast cancer cases can be attributed to genetics, hormones and things like that. That means there is about 50 percent of cancer cases that are unexplained," Muddle said.

The women chose this topic for their study because, according to them, it is such an "uncharted territory." Plus, wearing a bra is part of a woman's daily routine that its effect on health should be monitored and examined.

They are also hoping the study could contribute to the efforts to improve women's lives by influencing brassiere manufacturers to design bras that would not harm women.

Source: "Bras may be bad for you" as posted on 15 January 2003

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There are endless silly fashions......

Moulin Rouge aside, we can now laugh at the Victorian fashion for corsets, which had women fainting as they tried to achieve the perfect 18-inch waist —crushing ribs and squashing the lungs and other internal organs in the process.

The sensible Amelia Bloomer tried to encourage women to wear looser Turkish-style trousers, but the garments named after her attracted widespread ridicule from the more dedicated followers of fashion.

In the 21st century, are we yet free of the dictates of fashion on our health?

The humble bra, for example, is now being questioned by some as a cause of spinal problems and breast pain.

In a study of 100 women who had regular breast pain, those who stopped wearing a bra for three months had a significant reduction in pain, says Professor Robert Maunsell, a breast surgeon at the University of Wales, UK.

He says this is a notable achievement for a condition that is otherwise difficult to treat.

Professor Maunsell postulates that wearing a bra may impede drainage of the lymph ducts and also contribute to the development of cysts by exerting pressure on the milk ducts.

He says there are no medical or long-term cosmetic advantages of wearing a bra.

“With age, the supporting structures which are made of collagen get thinner and thinner. That happens to not only the supporting ligaments which are holding the breast up, but also to the other tissues.

“If you have a mainly fatty blob on the chest in a bag of skin, it is going to hang down. It is a complete myth that this is stopped by wearing a bra.”

Others have even made the controversial claim that by blocking lymphatic drainage, wearing a bra may be linked to breast cancer.

A US medical anthropologist, Dr Sydney Singer, whose observational study appeared to show such an effect, likened bras to foot binding: “The purpose is to bind the breast. There is nothing good about them — our culture has turned breasts into fashion accessories.”

But cancer researchers have dismissed such claims as lacking in evidence.

Nevertheless, Australian researchers are taking a closer look at the effects of wearing a bra on lymphatic function and other parameters such as rib expansion and respiration.

“Up until now there have been very few studies on the subject, particularly the area of fluid drainage from the breast. Most women wear a bra every day of their lives but most have never questioned whether it has any impact on their health,”says Angie Bruce, a researcher at the University of Western Sydney.

“We don’t know what to expect from the results because it’s such uncharted territory.”

Australian Doctor 2 May 2003

[Liberty]

Removing Bras Relieves Shoulder and Neck Pain

E Ryan
Pectoral Girdle Myalgia in Women: A 5-year Study in a Clinical Setting
Clinical Journal of Pain 16(4) December 2000, pp298-303

Doctors frequently see women with neck, and shoulder pain, tingling in the arm and headaches, more frequently than in men. This seems more common in women whose activities require them to lift their arms above the shoulders.

A common finding in examining women is to see a deep groove over the shoulder from the bra strap.

The unsupported breast places all of it's weight on the muscles of the chest wall. A bra strap turns the shoulder into a pulley, transferring the weight to the shoulder and neck.



Obviously the higher the breast is lifted, the greater the transfer of weight and hence strain.

An Australian Surgeon, Dr Ryan, examined 100 women with painful shoulder areas. After initial tests they were asked to remove the weight from the shoulders for 2 weeks and then re-examined. Most went bra-free, one went strapless, a few used a body suit.

Two weeks later, their symptoms had improved. Within an hour of replacing their bras, the symptoms returned.

Of those who did not elevate their arms (84%) symptom relief was complete. 3 years later 79% of these women were bra free. The remainder preferred to put up with the pain rather than discard their bras.

The 16% whose work involved raising their arms, only got partial relief. 13 of the 16 persisted in being bra free and by 6 months their symptoms had gone completely.

When breasts first develop, they generally merely protrude, although even some teenagers may develop breasts that come into contact with the chest below the Inframammary Fold (IMF).

The protruding or 'high' breast is anchored to the chest at its base. Since it is approximately cone shaped the weight is distributed evenly over the area of its base.

In the low breast the weight is distributed over a larger area, with some of the undersurface skin now pressing on the chest as well as the anchorage at the base. This has the effect of reducing the strain, by sharing the weight over a larger area.

The bra completely disrupts this system of distributing breast weight, transferring the weight from the chest to the shoulder, creating unnatural strains and tension.

Being bra free is a more natural way for the body to carry the weight of the breast, which can be considerable in the larger woman.

[Liberty]

Bras Distort Breast Shape and Size: Increase Sag

K Ashizawa
Breast form changes resulting from a certain brassiere
Journal of Human Ergology, June 1990 19(1): 53-62

In a Japanese study, 11 women were carefully measured, wearing a standardised fitted bra which was continually adjusted for 3 months.

During the study period the breasts became larger and lower. Underbust measurement decreased, and over bust measurement increased, while the lowest point of the breast moved downwards and outwards.

The authors described the bra as an instrument of torture, and compared them to the Chinese tradition of crippling women by binding their feet.

Essentially, the breasts were squeezed out of the chest wall, and therefore hung even lower.

This may be related to the particular bra chosen for the experiment. When the women were allowed to wear any bra they chose, there was some improvement.

The larger the breasts to start with, the more the change.

[Liberty]

Sports Bra Decreases Breast Movement in Exercise: May Reduce Breast Pain

Mason, Page, Fallon
An analysis of movement and discomfort of the female breast during exercise and the effects of breast support in three cases
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 2(2): 134-44, 1999

About 50% of women report some sort of pain or discomfort in their breasts during exercise. This varies considerably in intensity and may depend on what they are wearing.

In a very small study in Australia, 3 young women were photographed exercising bare breasted, with two models of a bra, and with a particular sports bra.

As expected breast motion was reduced by bras, and the sports bra was the most effective. The women reported less discomfort with bras and especially with the sports bra.

Therefore if discomfort limits your ability to exercise, you may benefit from wearing a bra during exercise, especially a sports bra.

However not all sports bras are created equal and should be properly fitted.

Note that this was a very small study. The subjects were aged 17-21 and with cup sizes B and C.

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Although some women athletes are concerned that a sports bra may interfere with breathing, and increased pressure on the rib cage has been demonstrated, no significant effect on breathing can be shown.

Bowles KA, Steele JR, Chaunchaiyakul R.Do current sports brassiere designs impede respiratory function? Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005 Sep;37(9):1633-40

[Liberty]

Trying to define the Perfect Breast in Plastic Surgery

A Fabié, E. Delay, J.-P. Chavoin, F. Soulhiard and P. Seguin
Application à la chirurgie plastique d'une approche artistique de l'esthétique du sein
(Plastic sugery application in artistic studies of breast cosmesis)
Service de chirurgie plastique, CHU de Rangueil, Toulouse, France
Annales de Chirurgie Plastique Esthétique 2006

http://france.elsevier.com/html/detrevue.cfm?code=CP

La quête de la beauté a toujours été une préoccupation. Cela implique le besoin de préciser le sein « beau » pour faire ou refaire un beau sein en chirurgie plastique, esthétique et réparatrice. Nous avons défini les paramètres utiles en sénologie chirurgicale. Puis nous avons réalisé une étude anthropomorphologique d'une série de 70 volontaires et d'un buste « idéal ». Ceux-ci ont été soumis à un jury de cinq plasticiens, cinq médecins non-plasticiens, cinq femmes non-médecins, cinq hommes non-médecins qui les ont notés sur 20. L'étude des dix plus beaux seins (note supérieure ou égale à 14/20) nous a permis d'analyser les valeurs pertinentes utilisables en chirurgie. Nous avons précisé les dimensions moyennes de seins jugés beaux. La flèche du sein et surtout le rapport flèche/hauteur du tronc sont les facteurs les plus significatifs (p = 0,000969). Ce rapport est proche de 0,387 dans notre série de beaux seins. La forme du beau sein est ronde, proche du sein juvénile. Ni la taille de soutien-gorge, de bonnet, de tour de poitrine, de base, des segments II et III, ni le rapport II/III ne sont significatifs dans une série homogène de beaux seins naturels (non opérés). Le sein « idéal » est un sein harmonieux et proportionnel à la hauteur du tronc de la femme. Le rapport flèche/hauteur du tronc est proche de 0,387 dans l'étude morphologique des beaux seins.

The quest for beauty has always been a preoccupation. There is a need to define the “ideal” beautiful breast with objective characteristics, usable in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. We have defined the necessary parameters usable in breast surgery. We performed an anthropomorphic study including 70 volunteer women and one molded model ‘ideal’ bust. Multiple pictures were taken for each volunteer, that were evaluated and by a jury of five plastic surgeons, five doctors from other specialties, five women, and five men. A score out of twenty was used for this study. The main values for the ten women that obtained the best scores notation (14or more) were used in order to define the ideal measurements for surgery. The breast ‘arrow’ and the ratio of the breast arrow over the trunk height were the most significant factors. According to statistical studies, this fraction should be about 0.387 (Statistical significance P = 0.000969). The ideal breast has a round shape and looks like a juvenile breast. Neither breast size, bra cup size, or base, segments II and III, or the fraction of II/III were significant in our series of (non operated) natural breasts. The ideal breast is in harmony and proportional to the trunk height, with the main fraction of the breast arrow to the trunk height of about 0.387.

What constitutes a perfect breast? In this study by French plastic surgeons, photographs of women’s breasts were judged on their degree of perfection, and this was then compared to many different measurements, and properties to decide what makes a perfect breast. Well it turns out there was really only one thing. The distance from the point where the collarbone (clavicle) meets the breastbone (sternum) to the nipple (which they refer to as the fleche, or arrow). And since this will vary depending on the overall size of the woman, they adjusted it for the distance from the top of the breast bone to the pubic area (which they call the trunk height), and this ratio (rapport) was even more predictive of a perfect breast. This ratio should be 0.4. (See the diagonal and vertical lines in diagram B).



Other fascinating information is that western breasts ideally resemble apples, while asian breasts resemble lemons. Apparently as we go through life we progress from lemons to apples to pears! There are many other fascinating facts about breasts in this article. Who has the most perfect breasts? Well, it is Laeticia Casta and Claudia Schiffer!


Casta



Schiffer

[Liberty]

One of my breasts is bigger than the other - is that Normal?

Losken, Albert MD*; Fishman, Inessa BS*; Denson, Donald D. PhD, FCP†; Moyer, Hunter R. MD*; Carlson, Grant W. MD*
An Objective Evaluation of Breast Symmetry and Shape Differences Using 3-Dimensional Images
*Emory Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the †Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
Annals of Plastic Surgery Volume 55(6), December 2005, pp 571-575

http://www.annalsplasticsurgery.com/pt/re/annps/abstract.00000637-200512000-00003.htm;jsessionid=ECFPL1tUPM5ExelFqJ5ghFdDKCZXLuyWy6JauL0tEOf61wNHyXHT!-1738699248!-949856145!9001!-1

Background: The concept of natural breast asymmetry is well known; however, actual documentation in the literature is limited. New technology is currently available which provides 3-dimensional surface images of the breast and the ability to qualitatively determine differences in breast size, shape, and contour. The purpose of this report is to objectively determine the extent to which this natural breast asymmetry exists.

Methods: Eighty-seven women without a history of breast cancer or previous breast surgery were included. Images were obtained using 3dMD technology. Data points queried included age, parity, body mass index (BMI), ethnicity, and bra size. Left/right images were superimposed and the distance between the 2 surfaces, and contour was calculated. The degree of asymmetry was determined and comparisons were made. Similar differences in nipple-to-notch measurements were calculated and compared. Subjective evaluations were included for clinical relevance.

Results: The average age was 49.6 years (range: 19–77), with an average BMI of 25 (range: 18.5–36.7). The average nipple to notch on the left was 24.3 cm and 23.8 cm on the right. The nipple-to-notch asymmetry was on average 3.2%, with the left breast measurement being greater the majority of the time (62%). The mean distance between each breast demonstrated consistent breast asymmetry, with an average measurement of +0.5 mm (left breast being larger than the right). The degree of breast asymmetry was documented by a root mean square value (RMS) of 5.93 mm. This was not related to age, parity, or ethnicity; however, it was significantly higher in those patients with larger BMI, cup size, and chest-wall circumference. Only 10% of women were found to have severe breast asymmetry on subjective evaluation, which correlated objectively with the RMS in that group being significantly higher at 9.8 mm (P < 0.05). There were no predictable patterns of asymmetry; however, the most common pattern was larger laterally and smaller medially, found in 32% of the women.

Conclusion: Natural breast asymmetry does exist, demonstrated objectively using 3-dimensional surfaces images. The left breast is on average larger than the right, with differences in size and shape being consistent but fairly unpredictable. It is important that we know baseline differences in breast symmetry prior to objectively analyzing results following esthetic and reconstructive breast surgery.


3 dimensional imaging confirmed that the breasts are commonly assymetrical, the larger the breast size and the body size, the bigger the difference. Most of the time (62%), the left breast was larger. However only 10% of women had major differences between the two breasts.

[Liberty]

The larger your Breasts, the less you Walk

Williams, Paul T.
Nonlinear Relationships between Weekly Walking Distance and Adiposity in 27,596 Women
Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Donner Laboratory, Berkeley, CA
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise Volume 37(11), November 2005, pp 1893-1901

http://www.acsm-msse.org/pt/re/msse/abstract.00005768-200511000-00010.htm;jsessionid=EEf5X61bfcYovDeY5bGGCocBVWNMu2Vim1tRqN5uhncj96rWl1zS!987057721!-949856145!9001!-1

Introduction/Purpose: Data from vigorously active women (runners) suggested that declines in adiposity with weekly running distance were nonlinear and dependent on whether the women are relatively lean or fat. The purpose of the current study is to assess the cross-sectional relationship between the amount of moderate-intensity physical activity (walking distance) and indicators of adiposity.

Methods: Cross-sectional analyses (i.e., quadratic polynomial regression, regression for percentiles of adiposity) of body mass index (BMI), body circumferences, and bra cup sizes in 27,596 women.

Results: The estimated percent reductions between walking 40–50 km•wk-1 and <10 km•wk-1 were greatest for BMI, intermediate for waist circumference and cup size, and least for hip and chest circumferences. The relationships of walking distance to BMI and body circumferences were all nonlinear (convex). In addition, the inverse relationship between weekly walking distance and adiposity was greatest at the highest percentile of BMI, body circumferences, and cup size, and least at the lowest percentiles. Thus, the decline in adiposity per kilometer per week increment in walking distance was greatest in overweight mostly sedentary women and least in lean active women. The decline in BMI per kilometer per week of exercise was greater in the walkers than previously reported for runners. However, based on the relationships between walking distance and percentiles of the BMI distribution reported here, we show that the majority of this difference is attributable to the leanness of the runners and greater fatness of the walker.

Conclusion: These data suggest that in women the greatest benefit of walking may be among the most obese and that at higher weekly distances the declines in weight associated with walking diminish. Whether these relationships are causal remains to be determined.

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Commentary

Breasts acount for 12% of female sex-specific fat.

When readers of Walking Magazine (Boston) were sent a questionnaire, a large amount of data from women who walk was obtained. Bra size was coded A=1, to E or more=5. Smokers and diabetics were excluded.

Average bra size was between 2 (B) and 3 (C). The distance walked per week was correlated with bra size. The larger the breast size, the less distance walked, for all age groups. Distances walked varied between none (average size 3=C), to 60km (closer to B).

Lower right hand graph shows distance walked per week (kilometres) compared to average cup size, for each of 5 age groups from 18-75.


Or is it that the more you walk, the smaller your breasts?