Sports Bra Fit 101

As important as getting a properly fit
pair of running shoes?

Did you know?
> 80% of women wear the incorrect bra size
> A sports bra should be replaced every 6-12 months depending on usage
> Two essential pieces of equipment for women who are physically active are properly fitted sports bras and athletic shoes.

No matter what your activity or breast size, a sports bra has become an integral and important piece of apparel. Sports bras are just as important as a properly fit pair of shoes. So why does a woman need a properly fit sports bra and what’s the difference between a fashion bra and a sports bra?

Whether you're a small-breasted walker or a large breasted volleyball player, without a sports bra you can risk damage to your breasts. A woman’s breast lacks any major muscles so she has to rely on two things to support her properly, the ligaments in her breasts and a properly fitted sports bra. Once the Cooper’s ligament (the supportive ligament of the breast) has been stretched, the only solution is a surgical repair that can be costly. Even though sagging naturally occurs throughout a woman’s lifetime, a properly fitted bra can help to delay the onset of sagging breasts. Don’t be fooled into thinking that only women with large breasts will sag, even A cups are at risk for sagging.

Finding the right sports bra isn't easy. A good sports bra helps to eliminate breast movement.

Good sports bras must have:
* ability to wick moisture away from the skin
* ability to quickly dry
* proportioned and contoured to minimize chafing
* straps that don't dig into the shoulders
* the band around the lower chest shouldn't shift or bind
* soft and plush thread to minimize skin irritation
* 25% Lycra, anything less won't compress breasts sufficiently

Before you buy, you must also consider your body type and activity. Different types of activity have different levels of breast movement. How much heat, and therefore perspiration, an activity generates will also determine the amount of moisture management needed. You may even have several different sports bras for several different activities.

There are three major types of sports bras: compression, compression/ encapsulation, and encapsulation.
At Fleet Feet Sports, they take the following steps to ensure a proper fit:

1. Find out the different activities in which you participate
2. If you have experienced discomfort in previous sports bra
3. Take a few measurements to determine your bra size
4. Provide bra suggestions based on your size and level of activity
5. Make sure suggested bras fit well and provide adequate support.

Article compliments of Fleet Feet Sports , 2624 Broadway St, Boulder.

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