top of page

Ladies – let’s talk sports bras!

Writer's picture: Julie RhoadesJulie Rhoades

Should you be wearing one for classes? Absolutely yes! A properly fitted sports bra is one of the most important items in your kit. When considering what to wear for classes your sports bra should be the first thing you think about!

 

Why you should wear one

Breasts are mainly composed of fat and soft tissue that sits on top of your pectoral muscles and is connected to the body by ligaments (specifically named Cooper's ligaments) and skin, neither of which are particularly strong structures. Those ligaments will naturally stretch over time with age but can stretch even further (and possibly tear!) during higher impact activities if not properly supported by a good sports bra, causing potential breast and back pain, discomfort, chafing and reduced performance.  

The force travelling through the breast during exercise will greatly increase, resulting in more vigorous movement and potential for damage. Breasts move in a figure of 8 motion during exercise, the larger the bust, the greater the amount of travel! An unsupported G cup can move up to 14 cm during exercise, in comparison an A cup may possibly only move 4 cm.


 Wearing a properly fitting, supportive sports bra will also ensure you are confident, comfortable, and can focus on your workout. It can also reduce the activity of the pectoral muscles, meaning you’ll experience less muscular fatigue when working out for longer!

 

What makes a sports bra different?

Is it ok to just wear your normal bra for exercise? In short, no. A sports bra has been designed for a very different purpose to your normal bra. Amongst other factors, your everyday bras are not designed to reduce motion in the way a sports bra is.


Fabric:

Unlike an everyday bra, a sports bra made of breathable, moisture wicking, quick drying material designed to take the sweat generated during exercise away from your skin. A build-up of sweat and heat created inside your regular bra has the potential for bacteria to cause skin inflammation.

 

Bounce Reduction & Shape:

Your sports bra is designed to fully encapsulate each breast, regular bra shapes, such as a plunge or balcony do not. This full encapsulation helps reduce motion and “bounce“ during your workout. Unlike your normal bras, a good sports bra can reduce motion by 83%, reducing the risk of pain and damage.

 

Support:

To also help reduce motion, sports bras are designed with wider support structures than normal bras, usually having wider bands and thicker, sometimes padded straps for increased support, comfort and reducing chafing.

 

What type should I choose?

There are so many different types and styles of sports bra available, it can be overwhelming to choose!

Firstly, consider the type of exercise of activity for which you will wear it, as well as the amount of motion or bounce you need the bra to reduce.


Sports bras tend to be categorised by “impact levels”, meaning how much they will reduce bounce. For activities such as dance fitness, running or sports, a bra designed for high impact exercise would be most suitable. A crop top style is not likely to provide enough support for these workouts.


For workouts that cause less breast movement, such as Yoga or Pilates a bra designed for medium impact might be more comfortable.


Bear in mind a larger bust may need a bra designed for High Impact even for lower impact activities, due to that increased motion. Bras that offer a racer back option can offer additional support and reduce pressure from the shoulders too.



Underwired or non wired? This is very much personal choice. There are so many great options available in either. Non wired doesn’t mean less support and can be more comfortable and easier to machine wash than an underwired bra.

 

Where should I buy from?

There are many different specialist manufacturers and retailers available these days to help you choose the right sports bra for your workout. Choose one that will give you advice on type, size and most importantly fit, you may need to try a few first before you find the right one for you, so choose somewhere with free returns if shopping online.

 

A few suggestions to look at:

Women wearing sports bras
Women wearing sports bras

55 views0 comments

Related Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page