The Silent Epidemic in Women's Sports: Unveiling the Truth About Breast Injuries
In the world of women's sports, a hidden crisis has been unfolding. For years, female athletes have been suffering in silence, enduring a type of injury that has gone largely unnoticed and unreported. We're talking about breast injuries - a pervasive issue that affects a staggering number of female athletes across various sports.
36% of elite female athletes across 46 different sports reported experiencing breast injuries.
In Australian Football League (AFL) and Rugby, a whopping 58% of female players have suffered contact breast injuries.
26% of women and girls playing community Australian football reported previous breast injuries.
In water polo, half of the 2022 USA women's team reported sustaining a breast injury, with 62.5% of those injured experiencing 6 or more breast injuries.
Less than 10% of athletes reported their breast injuries to coaching or medical staff
In a 2023 study of Australian female community-based rugby union athletes, none of the breast injuries were reported to either medical or coaching staff.
Half of the coaches and medical professionals surveyed in AFL and Australian rugby teams were not even aware that breast injuries were a problem for female players.
21% of elite female athletes perceived that their breast injury negatively affected their performance.
48% of AFL and Rugby players who had breast injuries felt it affected their football performance.
Some athletes resort to altering their playing style, limiting specific activities, or physically protecting their breasts during play.
Half of the Coaches and Medical staff of Australian rules Football and Rugby teams, were not aware that breast injuries were a problem for players.
98% of those who experienced a breast injury were not wearing any protection other than a regular sports bra
Only 3% of elite Australian female athletes reported wearing any breast padding during training or competition.
The most common reason for not wearing protective equipment was simply not knowing it existed.
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