Sports bra
A sports bra is a bra that provides additional support to female breasts during physical exercise. Sturdier than typical bras, they minimize breast movement, alleviate discomfort, and reduce potential damage to chest ligaments. Many women wear sports bras to reduce pain, and physical discomfort caused by breast movement during exercise. Some sports bras are designed to be worn as outerwear during exercise such as jogging. Larger breasted women may be prevented from taking part in sports or exercise when their breasts move excessively.
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[edit] Design and history
The first commercially available sports bra was the "Free Swing Tennis Bra" introduced by Glamorise Foundations, Inc. in 1975. The first general exercise bra, initially called a "jockbra", was invented in 1977 by Lisa Lindahl and costume designer Polly Smith with the help of Smith's assistant, Hinda Schreiber (later Hinda Miller). Lindahl's sister, Victoria Woodrow, complained about her bad experience exercising in ordinary bras, having experience runaway straps, chafing and sore breasts. During the course of Lindahl and Smith's exploration for a better alternative, Lindahl's husband suggested that a jockstrap would be a good model for what they were searching for, so Lindahl and Smith put together two jockstraps into what would later be called a "jogbra", but at the time they referred to as a "jockbra". [1]
In 1990 Playtex purchased Jogbra from Lisa and her partners. This was followed by research by Christine Haycock, associate professor of surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She measured breast movement of women running on treadmills. Sought out by bra manufacturers for her expertise, she advocated wide bottom bands for extra support and firm straps that minimized breasts bounce. Renelle Braaten, a Montana hairdresser, struggled to contain her double-Ds while playing racquetball and volleyball. Unable to interest mainstream bra manufacturers, she collaborated with freelance apparel designer Heidi Fisk, and founded Enell Incorporated. After considerable lobbying, she persuaded Oprah Winfrey in 2001 to try her bra. This led to very positive reviews in O: The Oprah Magazine, a 2001 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and a huge surge in orders.[1]
Sports bras can either encapsulate or compress breasts. Bras that encapsulate breasts have molded cups, while compression-type bras restrict movement by flattening the breasts. Encapsulation-type bras generally are more effective at reducing discomfort, but some women prefer compression designs that enhance their perception of modesty.
The most common sports bra is basically designed like a tank top with the bottom half cut off. Other designs use gel and water pads, silver fibres, and air bags. A stitchless bra was made by Wacoal, was molded, compressed, and shaped. A compressed bra is designed to push the breasts against the chest to reduce movement and bounce.[2] Other bras are knitted in circular patterns, giving varying stretch and support.[3] A common design uses a stretchable, absorbent fabric like Lycra designed to reduce irritation by drawing perspiration away from the skin.
Sports bras are also worn by women after certain surgical procedures. In those situations, a front closing sports bra with a compression, seamless cup is recommended for healing and comfort. Certain fabrics like Lycra have been found to help reduce swelling and help "even-out" a bustline that has been altered by a surgical procedure.[4]
Sports bras are also manufactured for men with large breasts to enable them to take part more comfortably in physical activity. Some descriptions used euphemistically to describe bras for men are chest binders, compression vests or shimmels.[5]
Another problem arises from the shoulder straps of standard bras. Standard well-fitting bras are constructed in the form of a "square frame", with all dimensions adjusted for each woman in a normal standing position, with arms to the sides. When a woman performs an activity which requires her to lift her arms above the shoulders, the frame is strained because it is anchored by the chest band, putting direct pressure on the shoulder trapezius muscles. This may result in neck and shoulder pain, numbness and tingling in the arm and headaches.[6][7] To avoid such problems the bra's shoulder straps are usually crossed at the back, or the bra is worn halter-style.
[edit] Levels of control
Different physical activities require different levels of breast control. Yoga, walking and gardening require only "light" control; bicycling, power walking and hiking require "moderate" control; tennis, soccer and jogging requires "firm" control; and running, intense workouts, boxing and horseback riding requires "maximum" control.
[edit] Exercise discomfort
About 50 percent of women report some pain or discomfort in their breasts during exercise. This varies considerably in intensity and may depend on what they are wearing. In an Australian study 3 women (17-21, cup sizes B and C) were photographed exercising bare breasted, again wearing two different bra models, and a fourth time wearing a specific sports bra. As expected, breast motion was reduced by bras, and the sports bra was the most effective. The women reported less discomfort with bras and especially with the sports bra. However not all sports bras are created equally and a woman should be properly fitted.[8]
During 2007, scientist Dr. Joanna Scurr of the University of Portsmouth conducted a motion study of seventy women while running. They represented the widest range of breast sizes ever studied, including women with cup sizes DD, E, F, FF, G, H, HH, J and JJ. Glamour model Jordan, whose bra cup size is F, is six cup sizes smaller than Dr Scurr’s biggest breasted subject.[9] Scurr found that breasts move in three planes of motion during exercise. vertically, horizontally, and laterally, in an overall figure-8 motion. Unrestrained movement of large breasts may contribute to sagging over time.[10] Motion studies have revealed that when a woman runs, more than 50% of the breast's total movement vertical, 22% side-to-side, and 27% in-and-out.[11] The 2007 study found that encapsulation-type sports bras, in which each cup is separately molded, are more effective than compression-type bras, which press the breasts close to the body, at reducing total breast motion during exercise. Encapsulation bras reduce motion in two of the three planes, while compression bras reduce motion in only one plane.[9] Previously, it was commonly believed that a woman with small to medium-size breasts benefited most from a compression-type sports bra, and women with larger breasts need an encapsulation-type sports bra.[11] Scurr's study disproved that belief.
Some female athletes are concerned that a sports bra may interfere with breathing, but even though increased pressure on the rib cage has been demonstrated, no significant effect on breathing can be shown.[12]
[edit] References
- Notes
- ^ a b "A History of the Sports Bra". Women's Adventire Magazine. March/April 2007. http://www.ladiesonlysports.com/somehistory.html. Retrieved 1-3-2010.
- ^ betty. "Sports Bra Selection Guide". Sweaty Betty. http://www.sweatybetty.com/Help/Help.asp?page=braguide&title=bra+guide. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
- ^ Casselman, Anne (November 2005). "The Physics of Bras" ([dead link] – Scholar search). Discover 26 (11). http://www.discover.com/issues/nov-05/departments/physics-of-bras/.
- ^ Sorrentino, Lisa. "Sports Bras And Post Surgical Care". Sportsbras.com. http://www.sportsbras.com/bras-post-surgical-care.html. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ Bumgardner, Wendy. "Men Who Need Chest Support". About.com. http://walking.about.com/od/sportsbras/a/sensmensbra.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
- ^ Dr. Karen Kowalske. Bra Straps Health Watch. Office of News and Publications & the Library at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas August 2006
- ^ Ryan EL (December 2000). "Pectoral girdle myalgia in women: a 5-year study in a clinical setting". Clin J Pain 16 (4): 298–303. doi:10.1097/00002508-200012000-00004. PMID 11153784. http://meta.wkhealth.com/pt/pt-core/template-journal/lwwgateway/media/landingpage.htm?issn=0749-8047&volume=16&issue=4&spage=298.
- ^ Mason, BR; Page, KA; Fallon, K (June 1999). "An analysis of movement and discomfort of the female breast during exercise and the effects of breast support in three cases". J Sci Med Sport 2 (2): 134–44. doi:10.1016/S1440-2440(99)80193-5. PMID 10476977.
- ^ a b "Bouncing Breasts Spark New Bra Challenge". University of Portsmouth. September 23, 2007. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070915124901.htm. Retrieved 3 Feb 2012.
- ^ MedBroadcast.com. "Why do breasts sag?". http://www.medbroadcast.com/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=5822&channel_id=1003&relation_id=4536#.Tyq1CoGEzXY.
- ^ a b "Healthy Breast: Why You Should Wear Sports Bras on Every Workout?". http://www.calfreduction.net/content/healthy-breast%3A-why-you-should-wear-sports-bras-every-workout%3F. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ Bowles, KA; Steele, JR; Chaunchaiyakul, R (September 2005). "Do current sports brassiere designs impede respiratory function?". Med Sci Sports Exerc. 37 (9): 1633–40. doi:10.1249/01.mss.0000177590.75686.28. PMID 16177619.
