
Females doing sports, workouts or athletics must dress up in the right way to support the body movements without feeling pain or discomfort. The breasts need the best support, and sports bras are indispensable for women during sports and fitness activities. However, this might not be the case always because many women being unaware about the importance of wearing a good sports bra often grab the first option that comes across on the shelve of the store and head for the door.
Such rash selection can have far-reaching consequences on health, much more serious than the pinching of toes due to poor fitting running shoes or sneakers. Women may experience a variety of problems with poorly fitting bras ranging from basic discomfort to digging straps, chafing materials, tense shoulders, bouncing pain and even restricted breathing.
Why must you wear a sports bra?
During rigorous physical activities, it is normal that the breasts experience a lot of multi-directional movement. Besides moving from side to side, there is upward and downward movement as well as in and out movement. When a woman is running, her breast moves 9.08 cm with every stride. Due to lack of proper breast support, besides discomfort and chafing, the breast tissues experience strain that can eventually lead to sagging. Since breast sagging is irreversible women must support their breasts properly when participating in sports and similar exercise.
Size and fit
A sports bra is special, and you must be careful in selecting the right size, which can offer proper support. There is no formula to determine the right size, but instead, you must go through the process of trial and error by starting with your usual bra size and then make adjustments to arrive at the most appropriate size. Moreover, different bras have different designs that impact the fit regardless of the size and trying out a few types will eventually help to find one that is right for you.
When the bra fits right, the wearer will come to know about it if the back band remains at the same level all through. If the band tends to move upward, it is too big. A snug fit is the best fit, but it should allow free breathing without any discomfort. Ideally, just one finger should pass smoothly under the band or in the cup that indicates the right fit.
Signs of an ill-fitting bra
A bra may not work if the selection is faulty or the quality is poor, and you can feel that it is failing to support the breasts as it hurts during vigorous movements. The band at the back is the most important element for providing support, and it does not matter whether the straps fit perfectly or not. The band should fit snugly but not so tight that it feels painful. For the straps, you must ensure that it sits just as tightly like the band but should not dig into the shoulders.
The choice of the bra also depends on the nature of activities because the need for support will vary accordingly.