Many people equate the use of a sports bra with someone who is highly athletic such as a runner or someone who participates in a great deal of sports activities. Though this is the general belief of many women, this is not factual information. Any woman who participates in even regular exercise should invest in a sports bra. A good sports bra is just as important as a good pair of the proper type of shoes for the purpose, yet 73% of women who exercise on a regular basis are not wearing them.
There are a great deal of myths that exist concerning the care of the breasts. One of these is that the breast has no muscles. The fact is that glandular tissue and fat comprises most of the female breast, which is held in position by very delicate ligaments. This means that an excessive movement of the breast such as that which occurs during exercise causes strain on these ligaments. Over time, the ligaments will stretch, and in the long term, the breasts will begin to sag. Once the ligaments stretch, there is no exercise that will return the breasts to their former position. Even if you have small breasts, exercise will cause a movement of 40mm away from the body, so the need for support during exercise is important no matter what size breasts you have.
Another problem that is the result of inadequate breast support is sore and tender breasts following exercise. A survey conducted of general practitioner’s showed that 80% agree that the support of a sports bra will reduce stress on the ligaments and help delay the long-term sagging breasts. Though many women are of the mistaken notion that an ordinary, everyday bra can provide the same support, studies have shown that breast movement is reduced by only 38% as opposed to 74% when a sports bra is worn.
If you are athletic or even exercise regularly, you should certainly invest in a sports bra in order to prevent the movement of your breast during periods of activity or exercise. It is also a welcome addition after childbirth when it is recommended that you keep your bra on twenty-four hours a day since a sports bra is much more comfortable for sleeping and prevents the breasts from moving around during sleep.
The use of sports bras among women is grossly underutilized, especially among those who regularly exercise. If this is not changed within a very short time frame, the future is going to show an increase in the number of women with weak and sagging breasts. The time to work toward preventing this is in the early years of life before any permanent damage has been done. As already stated, no exercise is going to reverse stretched ligaments that are the result of a lack of support. The solution to the problem is prevention rather than cure. Keeping this in mind be sure that before you attend your next exercise session, you purchase a well-fitting sports bra that will reduce the amount of breast movement as you work out or perform sports.