Breast Injury Reporting Pathways

Historically, injury surveillance systems within women's sports have failed to collect representative data (or any data, for that matter) on breast injuries, as they do not fit neatly into the standard injury type or body region classifications typically used (Smith, Eichelberger and Kane, 2018; Brooke R Brisbine et al., 2020). The notable absence of breasts injuries within these surveillance systems, in combination with the reluctance of female athletes to volunteer information without being directly queried (Brooke R Brisbine et al., 2020; K. Bibby, Kenny, et al., 2025; K Bibby, Kenny, et al., 2025), has resulted in an underestimation of breast injury prevalence. 

Although the inclusion of breast health as a classification category has recently been recommended by a working group of women’s health experts as an update to the International Olympic Committee Consensus (Moore et al., 2023), internal reporting practices, particularly within non-elite level of sport, are still largely driven by awareness and perceived importance of injuries by coaching and support staff (Finch, 2006; White et al., 2014). 

Encouraging accurate reporting and recording of breast injuries is therefore another essential role of team staff. This will ensure that players receive appropriate treatment for breast injuries from medical staff, as well as allow teams to capture accurate injury surveillance data, which is essential for the future development and implementation of breast injury prevention strategies. As with breast health education, the preference of female athletes to report to a female coach or support staff has been documented, and where possible, teams are encouraged to facilitate this as part of their injury reporting framework (Drummond et al., 2005; Bibby, Kenny, et al., 2025).