Ask the Expert: Why Is a Sports Bra So Important?

By: Jillian Wiederer, Fleet Feet Inc. Sports Bra Expert

I recently came across a photograph of the first sports bra. Originally called the jock bra--later renamed and marketed as the jogbra--this sports bra was constructed from two jock straps. Can you imagine? We’ve certainly come a long way since 1977.

Yet, recent research indicates that the perfectly designed sports bra still does not exist.
As the Fleet Feet, Inc. sports bra expert, I am fortunate enough to work closely with Moving Comfort and ENELL, two companies that focus on sports bra construction and design. They are changing the way we move.

Recently, Moving Comfort has taken its research overseas, studying and biomechanically testing their current sports bras and their new design ideas in laboratories at Loughborough University and De Montford University, both in the UK and known for engineering and sports science.

If sports bras really are the second most important piece of equipment for active females, especially runners, then we should be very thankful someone’s finally taking sports bra design and construction seriously.

So, why is a sports bra important? First, our breast tissue is very delicate. It’s mostly made of fatty tissue, milk ducts, glands and Cooper’s Ligaments, which keep our breasts in place. But our Cooper’s Ligaments are small, and since ligaments are not muscles, they cannot be strengthened through exercise. Running and other high impact activities put strain on these ligaments, and eventually they stretch and cause our breasts to sag, no matter what our cup size. Properly fitting sports bras support Cooper’s Ligaments and reduce sagging.

What’s more, Moving Comfort’s research and other overseas biomechanical studies tell us that during running our breasts move in the shape of a figure eight: our breasts not only move up and down, but also side to side and in and out. All this movement puts extra force on our stride if our breasts are not properly supported. This can eventually lead to stress-related injuries.

Finally, it may sound obvious, but another major reason we need to wear a quality sports bra is that we want to be comfortable. I have met many women who want to run but won’t, quite simply, because it’s just too painful. They have tried wearing two or three bras, even combining an everyday bra with a sports bra, and they still experience pain. Or, maybe worse, they are embarrassed. In our day and age, that is just not fair.

Designing sports bras to address Cooper’s Ligaments, various movements of the breasts and comfort takes research and time, but rest assured, it is taking place. Moving Comfort’s Vice President, Julie Baxter, says it takes an average of 18 months for a bra concept to become a purchasable product. Moving Comfort takes hundreds of steps and designs countless prototypes to create the best sports bras in the world. Currently, there are sports bras on the market that help us avoid putting extra strain on our ligaments and extra force on our stride. This year, Moving Comfort introduced four new sports bras to help us all run more comfortably, and even more options will be available early next year.

So, what should we look for in a sports bra? A sports bra that offers both encapsulation and compression is especially important if you wear a C cup size or above. Encapsulating cups shape your breasts, hold each breast in place and address the “figure eight” movement. Compression sports bras press breast tissue against your chest to further eliminate movement. The combination of the two, found in high quality sports bras, such as Moving Comfort’s Fiona bra or the ENELL, offers support, comfort and shape. High quality sports bras also are made from wicking fabrics that pull moisture away from the body to keep us dry and comfortable during activity. And don’t forget about the fit. It’s important to try on a few different styles to make sure the bra works for you.

Even if the perfectly designed sports bra is not yet on the market, there is no reason to wait to buy a high quality and properly fitting sports bra. It is estimated that 80 percent of women wear the wrong sized bra. At Fleet Feet Sports, we recommend being fit for a sports bra at least once per year. Remember, breast tissue is delicate, and weight fluctuations, pregnancy and breast feeding all affect the shape and size of our breasts. Our Cooper’s Ligaments need additional support, and there is no reason our stride should suffer. You deserve to feel your best. And we are here to help. Just as we measure your feet to find the best shoe fit and support, we do the same for your chest.