Sports bra – how to choose? Types of sports bras
Every lady who has ever sports, is perfectly aware of the importance of the importance of choosing the right sports bra. While performing various movements, the breasts should be protected not only for the sake of comfort of exercises, but also to ensure their safety. The choice of the first sports bra is not is not a good idea, as an ill-fitting, this part of clothing may not fulfill its task. When choosing this product you should pay attention to several important parameters which will allow us to a well-fitting bra, and thus guarantee ourselves the possibility intensive and healthy training, regardless of the discipline.
Many women have problems with choosing the many women have problems with choosing the right bra for exercise, that is why in this article we Therefore, in this article we present a few tips that will make this choice easier.
Contents
- 1 Sports bra – what are its functions? functions?
- 2 Types of sports bras
- 3 Sports bra – how to choose?
- 4 Incorrectly chosen sports bra – what are the consequences? what are the consequences?
- 5 Symptoms of a bad fitting sports bra
- 6 Sports bra and sports top – the differences
- 7 Sports bra – usage. When replace it with a new one?
- 8 How much does a good sports bra cost and where can you buy it?
Sports bra – what are its functions? functions?
The main task of a sports bra is to immobilize the bust during movement. When exercising, we perform various variations, during which the bust rises and falls. Incorrectly secured, it is exposed to shocks, injuries and deformation. A sports bra absorbs shocks and vibrations and limits the mobility of the bust during an effort. It is in this respect much more effective than a regular bra, which during training, minimizes breast movement in only 38%. A well-fitted sports bra should do this in as much as 74%.
During running, the breasts rise by about 9 centimetres with each step. Unfortunately, women’s breasts do not have the muscles that could minimize shocks and protect against the harmful effects of vibration. This means that the more intensively we train, the more our breasts are at risk of overloading, which can end not only in pain, but also change their shape. Women’s breasts are made up of skin and a network of connective tissue bands called Cooper’s ligaments, which stretch during exercise. And if they stretch too much, the breasts lose their elasticity and become saggy. Unfortunately, this process cannot be reversed, so it is better to start taking care of breast health from the very beginning, so that deformation does not happen at all. A good sports bra should therefore be heavily padded, in order to stabilize the breasts and ensure their rigidity. Also important is the material, which should ensure the flow of air and absorb moisture, to protect delicate skin from chafing.
Types of sports bras
There are several types of sports bras There are several types of sports bras and we usually choose one depending on our bust size.
compression bra Bra
Designed for women with small to medium bust (mainly with A and B cups). Minimising movement of breasts consists mainly in pressing them together to the chest. chest.
Encapsulated compression bra bra
Ideal for women with slightly larger breasts and those This bra is ideal for women with slightly larger breasts and those doing more intensive physical activity. It is more stable than the above model because it Encapsulates each breast individually, more effectively minimising movement during exercise.
Bra adjustable encapsulated compression bra
Works in a similar way to the previous model in that it also cups each breast separately, yet offers greater stability. Its characteristic feature is the adjustable strap under the bust. Ideal for ladies with large breasts who engage in intensive physical activity such as running or training crossfit.
Sports bra – how to choose?
The choice of sports bra should be selected not only according to the size of breasts. Attention should be paid to other parameters.
Supporting girdle
This is a very important element of sports bra, as it is largely responsible for bust support. We must pay special attention to the fact, whether the back part of the bra does not move up during movement. It is also worth checking, whether the waist is appropriately tight (it should be slightly tighter than in an ordinary bra), and at the same time whether it does not it does not squeeze us too much and does not restrict movement. When buying a new bra When buying a new bra it is worth choosing one that seems quite tight to us, When buying a new bra it is worth to choose one that seems to be quite tight, because the supporting The support rubber will loosen a little with regular use and then the feeling of pressure will be smaller.
Cup
Sizes of sports bras
often indicate both the width of the strap supporting the
and the size of the cup. Although they are less prominent than in
Although they are less prominent than in a traditional bra, we must pay attention to ensuring that the whole breast
is enclosed in the cup. If some part of the breast protrudes beyond the cup, it means that
This means that the bra is too small.
Whalebones
Not all sports bras have underwire, but if you have them, but if we decide on a bra with whalebones, we should pay attention to whether they surround the whole breast, without overlapping it. Whalebones should also not overlap beyond underarm line. They should also not squeeze the breasts.
Sports bra with or without underwire?
This is a question asked by many women who are looking for a good sports bra. Specialists brafiting specialists recommend that with systematic running and intensive workouts such as crossfit, in which a lot of explosive movements explosive movements, to bet on underwire, preferably embedded in silicone. embedded in silicone. Why? Well, the underwires not only increase stability of breasts during movement, but also nicely shape them. shape them nicely. Thanks to this, the bust is less exposed to shocks and vibrations, which means that the negative effects of intense physical physical activity do not occur in the breasts. This is especially important for owners of large breasts, as they are the ones The bra is particularly important for owners of large breasts as they are the ones who most often struggle with breast discomfort and pain after training. training.
Ladies who do low-activity workouts or have small breasts low activity or have small breasts, sports bras without underwire are sufficient. sports bras without underwires are enough, however, they should be properly adjusted to bust size. Women usually claim that sports bras without women usually claim that sports bras without underwire are more comfortable as they have less compression, however, as I wrote above, with a well-chosen bra, the whalebone should not press, and many specialists believe that they they work better with large breasts.
Strapless bras
Not all sports bras have adjustable straps. If you decide on such a model, you should check whether they are made in such a way as to support breasts at the right level. They should not put pressure on The straps should not put pressure on the skin of your arms, as this may affect the comfort of your workout and This can affect the comfort of your workout and can also cause skin burns. Bras with adjustable straps are easier to fit to the shape of your bust, and some products also have Some products also have adjustable shoulder straps, so you can It is easier to adjust the bra to the shape of the bust, and some products also have adjustment at the shoulder blades, so we can precisely adjust the bra under the bust, which will have an effect on better support of the breasts.
Seams
Among sports bras we can find Among sports bras we can find those which are devoid of seams. In the case of a good bra for With a good sports bra, the seams should be soft and smooth so they do not cause skin during exercise. It is also worth paying attention to the number of seams, the more the risk of skin damage increases. of skin damage.
Incorrectly chosen sports bra – what are the consequences? what are the consequences?
Incorrect choice of a traditional bra carries has many health consequences. When choosing a sports bra sports bra, they may be even more dangerous, because during explosive movements, the breasts rise and fall intensely, which This may contribute to various ailments.
Diseases and pain in the spine
This is one of the most common symptoms that a poor choice of sports bra can cause. It applies especially to ladies with ample breasts, which in itself is already a burden on the spine. If the weight of the breasts is not properly supported by a bra, the spine is additionally exposed to injury during movement, because it is then that the spine has to support the weight of the breasts. Systematic trainings with ill-fitting bra may result in backbone pain, and even more serious back diseases. The cause of diseases of the back may also be wearing too small bra, because then the pressure on breasts and spine increases, which may cause pain.
Neck and shoulder pain
This type of discomfort can also be can also be caused by ill-fitting bra. They appear They often appear when there is too much pressure on the spine. In women with large breasts large breasts pain in these parts of the body is commonly parts of the body, and ladies often do not realize that it may This can be caused by inappropriate choice of bra. Risk The risk of pain increases when you exercise in a poorly fitting sports bra and breast support is too weak during movement. movement. It is worth knowing that pain in shoulders may also be caused by the pressure of shoulder straps on the muscle.
Changes in the shape of breasts
If the bra is too big, it will not support the breasts well during movement, making them more vulnerable to shocks and as a result, the breasts can become distorted. When the bra is too small, the fabric, straps or elastic can compress the breasts and also lead to breast deformation. This is definitely an aesthetic defect, and what’s more, it is irreversible. Some also claim that the change in the shape of the breasts can lead to various diseases in this part of the body.
Check: Best chest exercises for women
Symptoms of a bad fitting sports bra
How can you tell if a bra is ill-fitting? ill-fitting bra? Sometimes we don’t even realize that our bra is the wrong size until you start move. When a bra is too loose the breasts are not adequately supported, causing them to rise intensely while running or jumping and then sinks, causing pain and discomfort. This causes pain and discomfort. The cause usually lies in too wide rubber band under the breasts, which does not cope with its support it. Let us remember that elastic is an element which stretches with with use, so after some time it will become too loose anyway, even loose, even if the bra was initially chosen well. This is This is a sign that you should buy a new model. A similar effect may also occur a similar effect may also occur when we choose a bra with too large cups. cups. The breasts will then have too much space in the The breasts will then have too much space in the bra and will also start to move in different directions. If If we do not notice this right after putting on the bra, the symptoms will symptoms as soon as we start exercising.
When your bra is too small, we feel pain in our breasts, connected with squeezing them too tightly. Then, during the movement, breasts do not move so much, but we can feel shortness of breath and uncomfortable pressure in the area of breasts. The symptom of of a badly fitting bra is also its lifting during movement. If at the moment when we stretch our hands up, we notice that the bra lifts up on our breasts, it means that we have to buy a bigger model. Other symptoms include pressure in the area of shoulder area by the straps or the aforementioned in the paragraph above pain. In the case of bras with underwires, we may notice that they stick into the breasts or armpits. This is also a sign of improperly fitted sports bra.
If we notice that after putting on a bra If you notice that your breasts are sagging when the bra is put on, this may be a sign of poor fitting under the breasts or too loose straps. In such a case try to adjust them, and if this is not possible, If this is not possible it will be necessary to replace the bra with a new one.
Sports bra and sports top – the differences
In shops with sports assortment we can often come across sports tops. They look similar to bras, however they do not have a specified place for breasts and do not stiffen them. You should know that sports tops are designed to be worn over a bra, not instead of it. Even owners of small breasts should not use them as an alternative, because exercises without breast support may end up in deformation in these cases as well.
We can exercise in a sports top, but only if we put it on a properly selected bra.
Sports bra – usage. When replace it with a new one?
If you notice that the elastic supporting breasts has stretched so much that it no longer support your breasts, you should replace the bra with a new one. The same The same applies to shoulder straps, which also have a tendency to The same goes for straps, which also tend to stretch too much and after some time of using the bra, they will not will not be able to perform their function properly. Other signs “wear and tear” of a sports bra are abrasions on the material and change in the shape of the cups.
In order to extend the “life” of a sports bra sports bra, it is best to wash it in specially designed dedicated for this purpose nets, preventing deformation. You can also wash the bra by hand. We do not recommend drying in tumble driers or on radiators is not recommended as excessive heat may lead to deformation of the product.
How much does a good sports bra cost and where can you buy it?
Sports bras can be found at various prices. Those made of moisture-wicking materials are usually priced within the limits of 60-200 zlotys. Of course, much also depends on the brand. Bras from popular manufacturers of sports accessories are usually characterized by higher prices, however bras of similar quality can also be found in the assortment of less known companies, which also produce sports clothing.
Well-known underwear brands offer sports bras at even higher prices, from 200 to about 400 PLN. PLN. These are undoubtedly high quality products, however before purchase it is worth considering whether a similar class of product we will be able to find at a lower price.
Before buying a sports bra, whether online or stationary, we must pay attention to the parameters given in the above paragraphs. Especially important is the bust support and cup size. We must also not forget about the material, which should provide breasts with the possibility of air circulation and wicking of moisture. If we choose a properly fitted bra, it will surely serve us well, but remember that even the most expensive product of the highest quality will not last forever. Each sports underwear used systematically will wear out and after some time it should be replaced. Therefore, we must notice the signs indicating that it is necessary to invest in a new bra. Remember, that the safety of our breasts is the most important, and if we like to exercise, a good sports bra will be necessary for us.
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