Exploration of breast motion under different activities and intensities

Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics
10.1177/15589250251352192
Jiazhen Chen
Yin ChingDoris Keung
Yue Sun
Joanne Yip
Kit-Lun Yick

This study rigorously examines breast motion dynamics in running, jumping rope, and high knee skips to guide sports bra design. Through motion capture and MATLAB analysis, researchers identified unique displacement patterns. Running displayed an erratic horizontal figure-eight trajectory, jumping rope exhibited a vertical elongated path, and high knee skipping resembled a butterfly shape. Without a bra, high knee skipping caused the most significant breast displacement, particularly in superior-inferior (68.54–74.89 mm) and medial-lateral (47.02–65.99 mm) movements. Jumping rope showed notable superior-inferior (47.88–63.69 mm) but minimal medial-lateral (9.08–14.05 mm) displacement. Running had minimal superior-inferior motion (9.73–36.61 mm) but more significant medial-lateral movement (15.72–49.17 mm). Exercise intensity directly impacted breast motion, with high knee skipping generating the highest accelerations (medial-lateral: 1.52g; superior-inferior: 4.18g). Sports bras should provide tailored support: medial-lateral for running, superior-inferior for jumping rope, and multidirectional for high knee skipping, with customizable features.