Emeritus Professor Julie Steele
Co-founder
School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health
University of Wollongong
Northfields Avenue
Wollongong
New South Wales 2522
Australia
Email: julie_steele@uow.edu.au
Associate Professor Deirdre McGhee
Co-founder and Director
School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health
University of Wollongong
Northfields Avenue
Wollongong
New South Wales 2522
Australia
Telephone: +61 (0)2 4221 4980
Email: deirdre_mcghee@uow.edu.au
Dr Bonnie McRae
(co-supervisor Robyn Tyler)
Dr Bonnie McRae is a Sports & Exercise Medicine Registrar. Bonnie has been working with Women’s Rugby League since the inaugural NRLW season in 2018. She has been the Chief Medical Officer for the NRLW Brisbane Broncos since 2018 as well as the Chief Medical Officer for the QRL Harvey Norman Maroons Women’s State of Origin team since 2019. Bonnie has also been involved in medical care of female rugby league athletes in All Stars matches, National championships, and at community club level.
Robyn Tyler
Project: Breast injuries, breast pain and support in Australian Women’s Rugby League.
Elyse Potter
Project: Breast pain, support and injuries in international women’s cricket.
Ruby Dang
Project: Breast pain, breast support and breast injuries in community-based female rugby union athletes.
PhD
- Brooke Brisbine: 2020 - Breast pain and breast injuries experienced by female athletes
- Celeste Coltman: 2018 - Breast Characteristics of Australian women.
- Sheridan Gho: 2014 - Building better bras for women treated for breast cancer.
- Deirdre McGhee: 2010 - Sports bra design and bra fit: Minimising exercise-induced breast discomfort.
MPhil
- Kathryn Gaskin: 2018 - Structural anatomy of the breast.
Honours
- Kate Mikilewicz: 2017, Bachelor of Medical & Health Science (Honours: 1st Class) - Effect of external breast prosthesis mass on upper torso loading and discomfort in women with a unilateral mastectomy.
- Karly Coltman: 2013, Bachelor of Medical & Health Science (Honours: 1st Class) - Does breast size affect the structure and function of the upper torso?.
- Celeste Coltman: 2012, Bachelor of Science (Honours: 1st Class) - How do bra strap orientation and design affect comfort and breast support for women with large breasts?.
- Sheridan Gho: 2007, Bachelor of Science (Honours: First Class) - To what extent are bras an impediment to exercise for breast cancer patients?.
Given the benefits of exercise, it is concerning that some women refrain from physical activity due to the pain and/or embarrassment associated with excessive breast motion. In fact, up to 70% of women report suffering exercise-induced breast discomfort during exercises involving running and jumping, and this leads to many of these women reducing their physical activity participation. To minimise excessive breast motion and the associated breast discomfort, it is essential that women wear a well-fitted, supportive bra.
Correct bra fit is imperative to good health, as ill-fitting bras have been reported to contribute to poor posture and musculoskeletal problems (e.g. upper limb neural symptoms, non-cyclical mastalgia, neck and back pain). These symptoms can be so severe as to force females with large breasts to seek a breast reduction or inhibit them from participating in physical activity.
Despite the importance of correct bra fit, surprisingly greater than 70% of women wear the wrong size bra. As a well-fitted and supportive bra can alleviate up to 85% of these symptoms, allowing women to exercise in greater comfort and possibly removing the need for breast reduction surgery, strategies that can ensure correct breast support are vital.