Why a Great Sports Bra Matters

Hey Just Tri Tribe!

As you are aware, sport is becoming a big part of everyday life, at every age, for both genders. Across all sports, participation is increasing and sport specific clothing is following suit. The one female apparel item that is currently getting a ton of attention and has an estimated $15 billion industry is the sports bra. We all know a properly fitting and supportive sports bra is vital to any active female. But, did you know that the sports bra, we are all so familiar with today, didn’t exist prior to 1977?

Ladies, we all need to take a moment and thank Lisa Lindahl, a student at the University of Vermont, for designing the first sports bra ever out of two jockstraps, over 45 years ago.

And I’ll be the first to admit it, but I’m guilty of squeezing into a smaller sports bra (that definitely restricted lung function) to aid in breast support and I’ve definitely worn an everyday bra, out of convenience, to complete lighter training. Did either option feel good no? Did I know it was negatively impacting my performance? Not, exactly.

A poorly fitted, uncomfortable, or unsupportive sports bra can decrease your sports performance by up to 4%.

To put that in perspective, imagine lining up at the start of a marathon race and knowing you’ll finish a MILE behind every other female runner with an appropriately fitted and comfortable sports bra on. Wow! That’s insane.

Why are sports bras so important?

Depending on your breast size, a study from Portsmouth University found that breasts move up to 14cm when left unsupported. Breasts are made up of a collection of fat, fibrous, and glandular tissue and held in place by skin and connective tissue, not muscle. The problem is neither skin nor the connective ligaments are strong and both stretch over time leading to even less support.

As you perform movements like jogging, jumping, etc. your breasts don’t just move up and down, they swing in a figure of eight motion. To reduce breast pain and additional, unnecessary stretching during exercise it is important to keep them in place.

What is you don’t wear a sports bra?

As alluded to in the previous section, when you exercise and play sports your breasts succumb to a tremendous amount of force and you can potentially suffer negative consequences from it. Repeated and excessive stretching can lead to pain and sagging of the breast tissue when they aren’t supported enough. 

What makes a great sports bra? 

A perfect sports bra will deliver on comfort and support. And here lies the biggest problem for athletic brands and why sports bra performance research is fundamental to the overall design development process. When a bra is designed in an effort to improve breast support, it usually forgoes comfort. And vice versa, a bra that is designed for comfort lacks support.

Additionally, breast tissue sits on top of the pectoral muscles, so the bra most also allow that muscle group to be fully functional. Most supportive sports bras limit unnecessary activity of the pectoral muscles by 55% during exercise which leads to less muscular fatigue which allows them to perform optimally for longer periods.

Want some sports bra recommendations and fitting tips?

• After Under Armour launched their #itstartswithabra campaign they’re shown dedication to improving the technology and materials within each bra. Try out their UA Infinity Bra.
• Another great sports bra brand is Maaree. These bras are designed by a sports bra tester and have received the “Best in Test” Award six times! They also offer free bra fittings. Use my discount code and get 10% off.
• Book an online bra fitting with an Maaree rep, here.

Thank you for reading my blog! I hope you find this information useful and start supporting your boobies!

Have a great week, get some movement in, and as always, Just Tri!!

Yours in Sport,

Lindsay

P.S. Help support and grow my business by following the Just Tri Performance social media pages on Instagram, TikTok, and subscribe on YouTube!!

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