The real reason you need to wear a sports bra during your workout

Not going for a run or planning a high-impact workout? Then you migth be tempted to ditch your sports bra for something more comfy. But that, writer Jessica Harris has been finding out, would be a mistake.

Lockdown really made lots of us realise that we prefer to be comfortable. Even now, we’re struggling to wear clothes that aren’t elasticised or loose-fitting. So it’s not surprising that a survey has found that 44% of women don’t bother wearing a sports bra during exercise. 

We get it – just getting a bra on can be exhausting. But ditching the support could have a detrimental effect on your breasts in the long run.

Created in 1977 with two jock straps sewn together (yes, really), the sports bra has quickly become an integral piece of our gym kit with the global market set to be worth an estimated £11.8 billion by 2025. In fact, when Chloe Kelly ripped off her shirt in the Euro final last week, sales of her Nike sports bra went through the roof, with searches for ‘football sports bra’ increasing by over 1,590% since Sunday. But despite our interest in getting kitted out, 80% of us are wearing the wrong size sports bra – which is why so many of us find them uncomfortable.

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So, what’s the big deal if we “accidentally” forget to wear one? 

“The importance of a sports bra should not be underestimated,” Dr Teodora Gratziela Crisovan tells Stylist. “As breasts are made of tissue that is supported largely by skin and Cooper’s ligaments (which are bands of tough, fibrous, flexible connective tissue that shape and support your breasts), they require support during exercise. If they don’t get that, it can lead to severe backache, sagging and irreparable damage to the ligaments and tissue. 

“As we get older, our skin becomes thinner and less elastic, so gravity has an easier time pulling us down. That stretching process tends to accelerate during times of high impact such as whilst running or doing high intensity exercise. So the older you are, the more you’ll need to wear a sports bra to prevent that gravitational pull, as well as skeletal and posture problems.”

Why don’t women invest in sports bras the way we do with trainers?

We don’t think twice about investing in the correct trainers, sweat-wicking clothing or sturdy equipment. So, why do we neglect to treat our breasts with the same consideration? “I don’t think women fully comprehend the extent of the consequences,” Rochelle Mills, womenswear designer at Gymshark says.

“Plus, the market has struggled to provide stylish looking bras, particular for women with larger breasts. Often times, medium and high-support sports bras look dated and aren’t particularly stylish – which puts off women as they still want to look and feel their best whilst working out.”

Even smaller boobs need protecting against potential motion damage

For those of us who weren’t endowed with sizeable chests, the go-to excuse for workout sessions sans bra has always been ‘I don’t need one,’ but Dr Crisovan is here to burst that bubble.

“’Despite what people may think, sports bras are definitely not just for women with larger breasts,” she says. “Women with larger breasts often feel the need for support whilst exercising to keep everything in place, more than small-breasted women. However, the need for support remains just as important whatever their size. All breasts are made up of the same tissues, skin and ligaments – while they may not move as much, the damage is the same.“ 

And that applies even in low-impact activities like yoga. “For example, when you’re in downward facing dog, you’re upside down. Think about where your breasts are at this time,” Dr Crisovan explains. There’s that gravitational pull again.

Although comfort and breast health is enough to have us snapping up a new sports bra or two, a study conducted by Brooks Running Co. in conjunction with the University of Portsmouthrevealed that women lose up to four centimetres of stride length due to poorly controlled breast movement while running. So, if your boobs won’t thank you for it, your PB certainly will. 

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPORTS BRA

Follow Mills’ top tips for finding a sports bra to suit your body and activity.

KNOW YOUR TRUE BREAST SIZE

Place a tape measure directly underneath your breasts for the band measurement and over the fullest part of your breasts (across the nipples) for your bust size. You’ll find that most fitness brands will have a sizing chart so that you can find your exact fit.

JUMP AROUND

A good road test for a sports bra is to move as much as you can in all directions to see how they hold up. The straps shouldn’t be too thin as they can dig in after a while and ideally, should be adjustable to provide a bespoke fit.

CHECK YOUR FIT

All of your breast should be encapsulated in the cup, which means the sides and tops of the breast must be inside the bra too.

LOVE THE STYLE

Make sure you love the design of the product and will feel confident wearing it. Sports bras do not have to be ugly – just like any other piece of gym wear, you should feel amazing in it. 

Follow @StrongWomenUK on Instagram for the latest workouts, delicious recipes and motivation from your favourite fitness experts.

Images: Nimble, Unsplash

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