Why Choosing the Right Sports Bra Matters
Sports bras are a supportive piece of clothing for people with breasts that are worn during physical activity to hold breasts in place. Breasts are made up of soft tissues that lay on top of muscles that need support during exercise. When breasts experience more motion, the individual’s biomechanics change, leading to both back and breast pain. Breast pain already affects 60% of females when they are not active, which is why proper fitting sports bras are imperative for all females. A lack of breast support has been found to also decrease self-confidence, which can decrease females’ willingness to be physically active.
In general, engaging in physical activity is important for maintaining and improving cardiovascular health, metabolic health, and even mental health. Exercise can also prevent the development of certain chronic diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend participating in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity and two days of strength training. Physical inactivity increases one’s risk of becoming overweight or obese — currently, over 40% of the American population is obese, with this population consisting of more females than males. Females are typically less active than males as breast size can prevent them from being active, and therefore, it is crucial to recognize how sports bras can hinder one’s activity level.
In general, engaging in physical activity is important for maintaining and improving cardiovascular health, metabolic health, and even mental health. Exercise can also prevent the development of certain chronic diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend participating in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity and two days of strength training. Physical inactivity increases one’s risk of becoming overweight or obese — currently, over 40% of the American population is obese, with this population consisting of more females than males. Females are typically less active than males as breast size can prevent them from being active, and therefore, it is crucial to recognize how sports bras can hinder one’s activity level.
Having a proper fitting bra can help prevent or reduce breast pain, which can interrupt daily activities and even cause sleep disturbances. An unsupportive bra can also cause ligaments between the breast and chest wall to become overstretched, further adding to pain and aches.
Image Source: Andrea Piacquadio
To better understand how breast size and preferences for sports bras impact one’s physical activity, American researchers conducted a study that recruited 400 females of all ages, from 11 years to over 30 years old. Participant household income and race were taken into account to see if financial constraints and/or racial disparities played a role in outcomes. The researchers also grouped cup sizes into small and large, small being AA-B cups and large being C cups and larger. The mean age was 22 years old and 5% and 11% of participants identified as African American and Hispanic, respectively.
The study found that the majority of participants did not have normal bras that fit them, only 34% did, and only roughly 3% of participants were professionally fitted for one. Also, nearly half of participants thought that support was the most important feature of a sports bra and 45% of participants preferred wearing a compressive sports bra. Females aged 19-29 experienced the least amount of breast support, and larger cup individuals had significantly more complaints about difficulty being active. Some participants wore multiple sports bras at once to feel supported as well. While race did not impact results, financial status played a role in activity levels as lower income household participants reported greater financial constraints compared to middle and upper class participants.
Although the study found that many participants struggled with finding the right sports bra, it did include limitations. Because the study recruited females from sports medicine clinics, the sample may have been skewed toward more active females. Another limitation is that this study did not include females who do not speak English, which greatly narrows the study population as 38% of America speaks English “less than very well.” In spite of these limitations, the findings of the study are crucial for improving the well-being of American females. There are few in-person fitting rooms for sports bras, which hinders one’s ability to get a proper fitting sports bra. Breast motions and biomechanics depend on the movement and type of activity being done, so not all sports bras are wearable for all activities. Understanding how an essential piece of clothing can significantly impact the female experience is imperative to improving female health — both physical and mental.
The study found that the majority of participants did not have normal bras that fit them, only 34% did, and only roughly 3% of participants were professionally fitted for one. Also, nearly half of participants thought that support was the most important feature of a sports bra and 45% of participants preferred wearing a compressive sports bra. Females aged 19-29 experienced the least amount of breast support, and larger cup individuals had significantly more complaints about difficulty being active. Some participants wore multiple sports bras at once to feel supported as well. While race did not impact results, financial status played a role in activity levels as lower income household participants reported greater financial constraints compared to middle and upper class participants.
Although the study found that many participants struggled with finding the right sports bra, it did include limitations. Because the study recruited females from sports medicine clinics, the sample may have been skewed toward more active females. Another limitation is that this study did not include females who do not speak English, which greatly narrows the study population as 38% of America speaks English “less than very well.” In spite of these limitations, the findings of the study are crucial for improving the well-being of American females. There are few in-person fitting rooms for sports bras, which hinders one’s ability to get a proper fitting sports bra. Breast motions and biomechanics depend on the movement and type of activity being done, so not all sports bras are wearable for all activities. Understanding how an essential piece of clothing can significantly impact the female experience is imperative to improving female health — both physical and mental.
Featured Image Source: Karolina Grabowska
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