Why You Should Wear A Sports Bra

So a few of my friends informed me that they don't wear a sports bra while they work out, so I'll be sharing the Interview with Dr Deirdre McGhee about why you SHOULD wear a sports bra, for the people who don't and for the one's who don't know what they are (yes there are people out there including a friend of mine).

A sports bra is a bra that provides additional support to female breasts during physical exercise. Sturdier than typical bras, they minimize breast movement, alleviate discomfort, and reduce potential damage to chest ligaments. Many women wear sports bras to reduce pain, and physical discomfort caused by breast movement during exercise. 

Why should women be wearing sports bras?   

Insufficient breast support can result in excessive breast movement, which can cause breast discomfort during exercise and embarrassment, both of which have been found to be barriers to females participating in physical activity.

Excessive breast movement during exercise can also affect performance, as women tend to brace their trunk and limit arm movement in a subconscious attempt to limit breast movement.

What are some of the common misconceptions about sports bras?

That all sports bras will fit you correctly! Women often ask me which bra to buy but it depends on the person.  In order for a sports bra to limit breast movement, it must fit you correctly. Not all sports bras will fit all the different breast shapes of women.  You have to try on a sports bra and make sure it fits your breast shape. Just because it is a high-ranking brand or claims to limit a high percentage of breast movement doesn't mean that it will work for you.

Another misconception is that one bra is enough. Depending on your age, bra size and level of physical activity, you may need to wear two bras (a sports bra and crop top) to achieve sufficient breast support.

When should you be wearing a sports bra- is it just when doing sport? 

No- if there's physical activity that involves breast movement, then it is ideal to wear a sports bra or a crop top. Depending on age, bra size and type of physical activity, a crop top or even a fashion bra may provide sufficient support.

If the sports bra is comfortable to wear, it can be used as an all day, every day bra, as it provides a high level of support. This is particularly useful for women with larger breasts, as bras that provide a high level of breast support can assist them achieve and maintain good posture, which can help prevent and treat musculoskeletal problems such as neck and back pain, which can occur secondary to poor posture and large breasts.

What are the top 5 things to keep in mind when choosing a sports bra?

 1) Level of support required:  do you need a sports bra, a crop top or both? This will depend on age, bra size and the type of activity you'll doing.

2) Design Features: Think about the cup, band, material, straps and underwire even before you try it on.

3) Underwire or soft cup: If a bra has underwire, it MUST fit the shape of your breasts correctly. Under-wire fit was a very common error found in the bra fit assessments.  It it's not possible to find an underwire bra that fits correctly, don't worry, a non-underwire (soft-cup) bra can provide still provide sufficient breast support.

4) Correct bra fit: Each and every bra must be tried on to determine if they fit correctly. If a bra does not fit correctly, it does not matter how much support it claims to provide it won't be effective. Your breasts can change their size with weight gain, your menstrual cycle and aging. Even the same bra style in a different colour must be tried on. Bras are dyed after they are made and the dying process can change the material and consequently the size.

5) Assess level of comfort and support: If a bra is uncomfortable and causing red marks on your skin in the change room then it is not worth buying. Women deserve to be comfortable and should demand it of their sport bras. In the change room, perform the type of activity to plan to do.

Dr Deirdre McGhee 

 Is a part of Breast Research Australia (BRA), a sports physiotherapist and a Senior Health Sciences Lecturer at the University of Wollongong. She's also recently performed a study which found that instead of the previously guessed 70% of women wearing ill-fitting bras, it was in reality far worse at 85%.  Makes you rethink your bra collection doesn't it?

So for the sake of your b00bs, invest in a sports bra :D 

A Few More Facts:

• Larger breasted women can experience tension and strain in the upper back and neck if you aren’t wearing a good sports bra. The additional weight in the front means your back muscles have to work harder to keep your shoulders back and down. Make sure you are conscious of your posture to reduce any additional pain.
• You might end up with Saggy Boobs Syndrome (SBS). You can get it if you don’t wear a good sports bra. Did you know that during high-energy, high-impact sports (like running), your boobs can move up to 10 or more centimetres. This can cause your Cooper’s ligaments (the ones that  support your breasts) to stretch (beyond repair), which isn’t good. This also applies to smaller breasted women as well.
• Size does not affect the negative effects of bouncing boobies. Did you know, that in 2007 a study by University of Portsmouth found that 50% of women complained of breast pain during exercise. If you experience pain during exercise, go and get fitted for a new sports bra ASAP.
• Not wearing the right bra can affect your performance, fitness and weight loss goals. The same University of Portsmouth study found that running strides are affected by swinging breasts, which could stop you from reaching your goals – if you can’t run as fast as you could, because your boobs are in the way, imagine if they are supported correctly, your technique and stride would automatically improve, leading to you being able to run harder and faster, which leads to results being reached!
• A recent study found each breast moved independently of the body by an average of 9cm for every step taken.  The reason you NEED to wear a Sports bras is because they have been specially designed to absorb the shock of bouncing and reduce stress on the ligaments which cause breast sag.

Kristin xxx