You might not have stopped to think about more than comfort when choosing a sports bra, but there’s evidence that an ill-fitting one could restrict your breathing while running. On the flip side, having a well-fitting sports bra could actually enhance performance.
In 1977, runners Lisa Lindahl and Polly Smith stitched together two jockstraps to create the original “Jogbra,” which has since become the indispensable sports bra.
But even though the technology has come a long way, and we’re offered many more choices, a recent study shows there is still room for improvement.
Sports Bras Can Limit Breathing
In fact, more supportive sports bras are shown to reduce oxygen consumption by 7%, potentially causing subtle changes in your running stride.
To come to this conclusion, researchers at the University of British Columbia tracked the breathing and lung function of nine elite runners. For the test, they ran on a treadmill wearing custom sports bras that could be adjusted from loose to tight.
The results showed that bras that were too tight caused runners to take more shallow breaths and fewer extra breaths per minute. As the bands were loosened, they had better running economy overall.
Their advice is to wear…
