Wearing a sports bra is necessary for women when practicing sports activities. This equipment guarantees them optimal comfort and protects them from breast pain. To take full advantage of the benefits of a sports bra, choose a model with the right level of support. We give you advice to help you in your choice.
The sports bra, an essential piece of equipment
A sports bra minimizes the bouncing of the breasts and keeps them firm during sports training. It is made from soft, stretchy fabrics with no visible seams. It does not have metal underwire like regular bras. This allows it to adapt easily to the curves of your body without causing discomfort during the practice of physical activity. To choose a comfortable sports bra, you should consider the type of sports activity you do and your chest size.
The width and the nature of the crossing (in X or in Y) of the straps are also essential characteristics to consider for the effectiveness of a bra. For example, racerback straps don’t move, unlike U-shaped straps that slide along your shoulders. Other parameters improve the comfort of the equipment and its ease of use. You must take this into account when making your choice. It is about the design, the brand and the choice of certain accessories such as staples or closure.
A bra offers great freedom in the execution of movements and a feeling of lightness. Models in airy fabrics or microfibers absorb sweat and dry as you practice your sports exercise. Thus, you benefit from a dry bra that does not stick to your skin. This saves you the discomfort caused by friction or irritation due tosports bra moisture.
This equipment consists of a wide, elastic and stretchy band which is fixed below the breasts. The latter goes around the chest without tightening or relaxing the body too much. Its role is to keep the breasts in balance, whatever the nature of the sporting activity. It is one of the key pieces that determines the comfort level of a sports bra. Some models are equipped with a higher level of support which limits the horizontal and vertical movements of the breasts without flattening them. This textile equipment is also used as appropriate lingerie for everyday use.
The different support levels of a sports bra
The level of maintaining a sports bra depends on its size. When it is too tight or too wide, it no longer provides a good level of comfort. The support also depends on the impact of the sports activity, the shape of your chest and the model of bra chosen. There is a wide variety of sports bras with different levels of support. We find on the market models of normal, medium or superior level. The normal support level is recommended for low impact exercises. They have less impact on the body and cause little chest pain.
This model also adapts to small breasts. The medium model is suitable for non-repetitive high impact training. For very high-intensity sporting activities, a high level of support is required. Models with moderate and extreme support are recommended for large breasts. To guarantee a better level of support and effective protection of your chest, you must renew your bra every six months. After such a long time of use and washing, your sports bra may lose its elasticity and its level of support may drop. This is why you must opt for quality models.
Which sports bra according to the sporting activity practiced?
For gentle sporting activities at low or medium intensity, a light support sports bra or normal is ideal. These sports cause very moderate movements of the chest. These include, among others:
- walking,
- and yoga,
- dance,
- climbing,
- Golf.
Bras with a higher level of support correspond to high-impact sports practices. These are sports such as fitness, cycling, cross training or bodybuilding. These are repetitive exercises that involve very frequent use of the bra. Extreme support is most suitable for exercises with very intense impacts. Among these sports, we can cite horse riding, boxing, running, snowshoeing or team sports. There are models of sports bras with support levels and adjustable straps. They adapt to all types of exercise, regardless of the degree of intensity.