FIT is the most important element of a sports bra. It is important to buy for function and not fashion.
It might be a lovely colour and match your trainers but if it’s not giving you the support you need then it might be doing more harm than good.
Not only does a lack of support feel uncomfortable, it can cause long-term problems as there are no muscles in the breasts so the ligaments absorbing most of the shock can be permanently stretched and cause breast damage.
The average breast size of Irish women is a D cup (55% of Irish women).
One study has shown that some women don’t exercise specifically because of the problems of supporting their bust.
What are the key features to look for in a sports bra?
There are three types of fit.
*Compression bras are the old fashioned sort, with the breasts pushed against the chest wall using Lycra.
Smaller-breasted women may feel they are given enough support from these.
*Encapsulation bras are similar to traditional ones – lifting and separating.
*Combination bras do a mixture of the two. Larger-breasted women should select one of these.
1.Look for sports bras that encapsulate each breast in a separate chamber; they reduce bounce and support better than simple shelf bras.
2.Find a sports bra that comes in a cup and band size rather than just small, medium, or large; they usually fit more precisely.
3.Look for high-performance fabrics that wick away sweat to minimize chafing.
4.Before buying, jump, swing your arms, and move around. If a bra pokes, rubs, slips, jiggles, constricts your breathing, or bulges, put it back. It should fit on the first hook; as it loses elasticity over time, you need room to tighten it. A woman’s breast size can change throughout the month, especially if you lose or gain weight, so it’s important to have the ability to slightly alter the bra’s size.
5.The sports bra should be comfortable around the back and on the shoulders. If you are able to pull the back of the bra by more than a couple of centimetres, you either have a bra that is too big or one that is too over stretched.
6.Your sports bra should never have a birthday.
