Mechanical and Non-mechanical Contributions to Chronic Neck, Shoulder, Arm, and Back Pain in Full-busted Women
University of Houston
Summary
The goal of the proposed project is to evaluate a mechanical intervention (sports bras designed specifically for full busted women) to alleviate neck, shoulder, arm, and back pain in full-busted women and investigate the contribution of non-mechanical pathways associated with this type of pain in women. Specifically, the investigators will investigate how sex-hormones, inflammation, and remapping of specific regions of the brain contribute to the manifestation of neck, shoulder, arm, and back pain in full-busted women across the lifespan.
Description
Approximately 130 million individuals in the US (39% of the US population) are living with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Women experience more localizations of pain across their lifespan. Women report significantly more pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, back, and breasts due to altered musculoskeletal activity within in the neck and thoracic region due to the presence of breast tissue. Neck, shoulder, arm, and back (NSAB) pain has been strongly linked to bra cup size. Since 2000, there has been a significant increase in women's average bra cup size from B to E; women with cup sizes D and abov…