L adies, how does your bra fit? Chances are, not quite right. A British study that tested bra designs found that many women are unaware that they’re wearing an ill-fitting bra. No big deal, you think? What’s so bad if your breasts droop a little? The truth is that when bras fit poorly, the bouncing that occurs can irreparably stretch the breast’s connective tissues, causing sagging and pain, no matter what size your breasts are. "Breasts have little natural support," explains Joanna Scurr, PhD, author of the study and principal lecturer in the department of sport and exercise science at the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom. Proper support is critical.

BEST BRAS NOT YET AVAILABLE...

Dr. Scurr, a breast biomechanics expert, and her team are the first to conduct research in the 3D movement of breasts and how effective bras are at reducing it. They tested 50 or so bra designs on 200 women with a wide range of breast sizes. The women, who had sensors on their bodies, walked, jogged and ran on a treadmill while wearing different bra types. The researchers found that breasts bounce up to eight inches during exercise and that they move not only up and down, but also side to side and in and out. Slow jogging caused as much movement as did a full-out sprint. The problem is that most bras are designed to minimize only vertical motion, says Dr. Scurr, who is working with manufacturers to design a bra that can lessen movement in all three directions. Appropriate breast support is important even in the activities of daily life, she said.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT BRA

Dr. Scurr advises shoppers to try on many different kinds of bras. Don’t limit yourself to what you’ve always bought before or even what you think is most comfortable. The right bra may be different from the one you’re accustomed to. Specifically, she says:

• Get measured by a trained professional and use that measurement as a starting point, but try on lots of different sized bras, constructed in different ways, since sizing varies among manufacturers.

• Take a look and give a try to lots of different styles, too. Breasts come in different shapes and sizes, so not all styles will fit you well.

• Make sure your chest band fits firmly, so you cannot easily fit your finger between the bra and your breastbone. The band provides the majority of support and a common mistake is having it fit too loose.

• The underwire and shoulder straps shouldn’t dig into your flesh. The underwire should sit flat against your chest wall.

• If you go down a band size (i.e., from a 36 to a 34) be aware that you then must go up a cup size.

• The bra cup should not be baggy, nor should it press uncomfortably into breast tissue.

• Always buy a bra that fits comfortably on the loosest setting -- when you wash it, the material will stretch and you can then pull it in.

• For the most support, buy an encapsulation bra, which has separate molded cups and limits motion in all directions. Avoid the compression bra (i.e., sports bras), which flattens the breasts, limiting only up and down movement.