During my training and now post C25k, I was and continue to be very careful and listen to my aching body and now love running three times a week with varying distances of anywhere from 3K to 10K.
Luckily Iāve managed to avoid any injuries to date, that was until Wednesdays 10K run!!!
Iāve since been struggling from the dreaded but not much talked about;
JOGGERS NIPPLE!
And bloody hell, how painful has it been.
So today I purchased some Vaseline and sticky plasters, shaved my chest area and took precautions before running š.
So I suppose the message behind my post is to all men out there on this forum, protect your nipples before a run because believe you me, it hurts!!!!
Joggerās nipple is common in runners. It occurs when the nipples are irritated by rubbing and chafing against clothing during physical activity.
Joggerās nipple is also known as runnerās nipple, surferās nipple, red eleven, raverās nipple, big Qās, red nipple, stingers, weightlifterās nipple and gardenerās nipple, or nipple chafe. There are similar colloquial terms for almost any activity that can result in the condition.
Symptoms
Joggerās nipple is very painful and can affect one or both nipples.
Common symptoms of joggerās nipple include:
irritation
redness of the skin
soreness
dryness
If the nipple is irritated for a long period it may crack and bleed.
Causes
Joggerās nipple is common in women who run without bras and men who wear shirts that are made of coarse material such as cotton. Also, itās more likely to occur in winter when the nipple is more prominent and hard.
Treatments
A short rest from running to prevent further irritation will help your nipple to heal. You may wish to do some cross training, such as cycling, during this time to maintain your cardiovascular fitness. You can use an antiseptic cream on your nipple to treat the irritation and prevent infection. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and if you have any questions, ask your pharmacist for advice.
Do
Apply a waterproof adhesive bandage, or surgical tape over each nipple before exercise to act as a barrier between skin and cloth.
Donāt use a large, loose-fitting T-shirt during exercise.
Apply an anti-chafing balm or petroleum jelly prior to exercise on your nipples
if youāre a woman, you should wear a soft fibre and seamless bra
men should wear tops made from soft material
Wear a sports bra, shimmel, compression vest, or some variety of chest binding clothing.
Donāt
wear tops made of coarse material
Peer reviewed by David Toy, MCSP, Bupa Sports Medicine physiotherapist
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