Those of you who follow my blogs will know I am all about support. My mission in life to is to help every woman find the best supportive (and comfortable!) sports bra for them.
And just between you and me I think I am doing a rather good job (there goes my trumpet blowing again). All jokes aside, as a lady with a larger than average breast size (D-DD) I have always struggled to find a good supportive bra. It is one of the reasons I started Sports Bras Direct.
We already know not all women are created equal and even less equal in the breast department. But do you know what things affect the amount of breast support you need? Read on as I take you through the five main things that affect the amount of support you need.
Before we jump in, a question I am often asked first is ‘why do I need to wear a supportive bra’? Those of us that have experienced breast pain whilst exercising may know the answer but there is a bit more to it.
Breast can be heavy. 16D breasts weigh approximately 600 grams each. That is like two bottles of drinking water hanging off your chest!
The force created by them can pull your torso forward causing you to slouch (this was so me as a teenager!) This is turn can have a negative impact of your sporting performance and can lead to back, neck, and shoulder pain.
A well fitted supportive sports bra will not only improve your posture but along with it also your performance.
The more obvious one! Did you know unsupported breasts can move up to 14cm during exercise? The only thing we were born with to arrest our chests is our skin and the delicate
Coopers Ligaments.
The right supportive sports bra can not only assist in supporting our breasts. But can also help stop the dreaded sagging associated with inadequate breast support.
To much bouncing around can not only cause discomfort it can be downright embarrassing. Up to a third of women avoid physical activity due to one or both of these factors.
Adequate breast support should be made a priority and sports bras need to be regarded as an essential piece of sporting equipment rather than just underwear.
OK, back to the nitty gritty of this article. So, what are the five things?
The first is obvious, breast size. It goes without saying the larger breasts weigh more and put a lot more strain on our natural support mechanisms; skin, and Coopers Ligaments.
Ladies with larger cups have heavier breasts. And those heavier breasts require more support. A friend with a B cup may be able to get away with a medium impact bra. But a G cup may require high impact support for all activities.
If you have a bit more up top check out my range of Full Busted sports bras.
As already mentioned, breasts are primarily supported by our skin. And what happens to our skin as we get older? It stretches! As such as we age our breasts need more support from our sports bras.
The other thing that can happen as we age, especially as we approach perimenopause. Our breasts can get bigger! I was a D cup and in recent years am now filling a DD cup. And what do we already know? Larger breasts need more support!
Different types of exercise generate differing levels of breast bounce. The girls will move a whole lot more during a run compared to a yoga class. And will need a whole lot more support.
As such, you need to match the sports bra to the activity. Low impact sports = low impact sports bras. High impact sports = high impact sports bras. Pretty simple really!
We all go through it and it affects each of us differently. For some, breasts swell. For others, they get tender. No matter the change for you will need to consider breast support.
To accommodate swelling or tenderness consider a bra with higher support. You might also want to consider owning a ‘period sports bra.’ One specifically set aside for that time of the month to give your girls the support they need!
You can’t talk about breast change without talking about pregnancy. OMG my girls seemed to change daily. Take ‘time of the month’ and multiply!
It is important to stay fit and active during pregnancy and beyond. Ensuring you have the right breast support during every stage will go a long way in ensuring that.
The best bit? I have a dedicated Maternity sports bra section to help you find the perfect bra for this time of you life.
We are all different. Both in our bodies, age and in the activities we do. At the end of the day you need to listen to your body and your breasts. They will soon tell you they aren’t getting the support they need.
If in doubt go up a support level and don’t be afraid to invest in multiple sports bras. Your breasts will thank you.
Yours in support
Amy x
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