We’re in the season of New Year’s resolutions (and January sales) – so let’s talk about the most important piece of athletic wear for women – your sports bra!
Repetitive trauma or bouncing up and down from jogging, jumping, dancing, or many other forms of activity, can cause permanent damage resulting in breasts dropping. The breasts are composed of mainly fatty tissue with the mammary glands and muscle. The muscle is deep so cannot help much in supporting the breast. There are, however, ligaments interwoven through the breast called Coopers Ligaments, which help hold the breasts up; but they are thin and not very strong. If the breasts are not supported properly with a good sports bra then repetitive bouncing can stretch these ligaments permanently.
It is not just the larger breasted women who suffer breast pain when exercising; smaller breasted women can suffer from jogger’s breast just as much. It is also possible that breasts that are not properly supported can lead to tension and strain in the upper back and neck, particularly in the larger breasted woman. The excess weight at the front can mean the back muscles have to work harder to keep the shoulders in the correct position. Massage and posture can help reduce the tension, and pain this results in; but can’t do anything for the boobs themselves – prevention is better than cure. So wear the correct sports bra. This should give support and prevent vertical movement as well as side to side movement.
There are many types of sports bra available and the most suitable for one person is not necessarily the best for another person. When choosing a sports bra you should take into account:
Support level – this will depend on your size (larger breasts need more support) and your sport (high impact?)
Compression or encapsulation – Compression bras basically compress the breasts against the chest and are usually crop-top styles. Encapsulation bras keep the breast separate in defined cups, more similar to a standard bra. Women with larger breasts should pick an encapsulation bra. Smaller breasted women may feel a compression bra is sufficient. A few styles both compress and encapsulate.
Strap width – Make sure the straps are wider than a standard bra. This will help support the breasts and prevent the straps digging in.
Material – Make sure the material is breathable and comfortable to wear. Also ensure that there are no seams on the cups which could cause nipple chafing!
#JoggersBreast #BoobPain #SportsBra #SupportTheBoob #Tewkesbury
You can find out more here:
www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/right-sports-bra-can-reduce-breast-pain
www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/features/sports-bras
www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Mind-your-posture-bra-fitting.pdf