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Wearing the right sports bra can make women run 7% faster, research claims
- Study participants wore a high-support bra, a low-support bra, and no bra at all
- Wearing the well-supporting sports bra increased performance by 7 percent
When it comes to running, it’s widely believed that a good quality pair of training shoes will help shave off those crucial seconds.
But according to one study, wearing a well-supported sports bra can increase your performance by as much as 7 percent.
Nearly three-quarters of women experience chest pain during exercise, which can be a significant barrier to enjoying activities such as jogging.
Researchers at the University of Memphis analyzed the influence of chest support on knee joint stiffness during treadmill running.
Knee joint stiffness is a biomechanical measure of how resistant the knee joint is to movement when force is applied and is associated with reduced oxygen consumption, improved running performance and speed.
According to one study, wearing a well-supported sports bra can increase your performance by as much as 7 percent. When England footballer Chloe Kelly scored the winner in the Euro 2022 final, she ripped off her shirt to reveal a Nike sports bra, which one of her teammates said was ‘just as important’ as having the right shoes .
A total of 12 female recreational runners between the ages of 18 and 35 were recruited for the study.
They represented a variety of cup sizes, including B, C, and D, and were professionally fitted with two sports bras: a high-support bra and a low-support bra.
Each participant performed three-minute runs wearing the high-support bra, the low-support bra, and no bra at all.
Researchers tracked the women’s movements as they ran and found that more chest support was associated with greater knee joint stiffness.
Analysis revealed that a high-support bra could improve their running performance by 7 percent.
While performance isn’t just related to speed, the findings indicate that wearing a good sports bra can add up to a few seconds after a minute of running, or about two minutes after a 30-minute run.
Research author Dr. Douglas Powell said: ‘The findings show that breast support not only affects the movement of the breasts, but that compensations occur throughout the body.
A total of 12 female recreational runners between the ages of 18 and 35 were recruited for the study
These compensations can lead to reduced running performance, an increased risk of injury and even the onset of chronic pain such as back and chest pain.
“There has been limited evolution in bra design over the last 50 years.
“Our findings, combined with previous research, show that sports bras should be viewed not just as clothing, but as sporting goods that can both improve performance and reduce the risk of injury and play a role in women’s health.” ‘
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Sports and Active Living reads: ‘Running is a common form of physical activity with minimal barriers to participation that has been shown to benefit cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and mental health.
“Running has many benefits, but breast pain is a major barrier to exercise…up to 72 percent of women experience exercise-induced breast pain.
‘The results of this study show that increasing levels of breast support are associated with altered biomechanics of the knee joint.
“Therefore, these changes in runner biomechanics demonstrate the importance of good breast support in female runners for running performance.”