Have you got the Bra Factor?
Wednesday 22 September 2010
We all love our trips to the gym (don’t we?), but we’re not as fond of the problems surrounding our boobs, or rather, restricting them.
Did you know that during physical exercise your boobs can move up to 10cm? That’s a lot of jiggling! This can cause the ligaments to stretch beyond repair, and it’s not just the busty ladies among us that need to worry, those that have a slightly smaller chest can suffer just as much.
All women know the importance of finding a well-fitted bra, but shopping for a sports bra isn’t quite the same as heading to Ann Summers or Agent Provocateur is it? They’re not particularly pretty, and probably something that we’d rather not spend money on.
While this may be true, there are a lot of reasons to make sure our most important gym buddy is up to scratch. Saggy boobs being the number one problem! It’s inevitable that a perky bust can’t last forever but if a sports bra can sustain it a little longer, why would you not?
Back and neck strain are also common problems for women who either don’t wear a sports bra or have one that doesn’t do the right job.
A high impact bra is needed for activities such as running, where your boobs are more likely to move around the most.
Whereas a low impact bra will be sufficient for Yoga or Pilates etc where the movement will be relatively small.
Please note we would advise against jogging down to your local yoga class in a LI bra, or you’ll be back to square one with the saggy boob issue! Research has also shown that the cupped style bras are more effective than the crop top designs, offering more support.
Not wearing a sports bra at all can result in weak and stretched muscles, which will not only cause un-necessary pain, but can also decrease performance. If our bosoms are swinging back and forth on the treadmill we are more likely to do less strides and not perform to our full potential. So lets help our boobs to work with us rather than against us!
We’ve listed 5 bra’s below to help you on your way, and they’re all under £30, barg! Just remember to treat yourself to a new one every 6-10 months as the elastic will wear down after washing. Any excuse for a shopping trip!
1. Lite Sports Supplex Bra Top - £9.99
2. Nike Lady Seamless Bra Top - £9.99
3. Nike Dri-Fit Revolutionary Sports Bra - £11.95
4. Thuasne Force 3 Top Strap Bra Top - £29.99
5. Shock Absorber Max Sports Bra Top - £27.99
By Verity Vincent
On a budget? Check out our guide on how to exercise using household objects