There is an obstacle to fitness that more than half of the population never have to think about but for us women, and especially women with larger breasts, it’s very real and can put a complete stop to even the thought of running or other similar activities. Some resourceful women overcome this obstacle by wearing multiple bras (at the expense of lung capacity) but many just give up before they really start. Exercise induced breast discomfort is not a myth, it’s real and it can be very painful.
In 2010 an experiment was conducted to investigate whether a sports bra designed to elevate (lift) and compress (apply pressure to) the breasts could decrease exercise and bra discomfort experienced by women with large breasts. This experimental bra was tested against a commercially available sports bra and a “placebo” bra and it was found that the experimental bra, in fact, provided significantly greater comfort during a three-minute run than the other two bras. The point being, it took elevation AND compression to handle the discomfort.
Now this might be all a bit unreal to the small-breasted and men among us but it’s good news for many women. Certainly, there are already some very good sports bras on the market. Unfortunately the ones readily available in sports and department stores are less than ideal unless you get lucky and happen upon one that works well. If you have a favorite, why don’t you write in and let us know? Perhaps your knowledge could help another woman start exercising too.
Tracey Thatcher
