How to Choose a Sports Top and Trick Gravity

Gravity makes planets spin, apples fall to the ground, and breasts wobble during sports. Scientists have found that during intense movements, women's breasts move in different directions. Such free flight stretches the already not very elastic ligaments, which then do not contract. This often leads to discomfort and pain. And the larger the breast size, the more torment physical exertion causes.

So that the pain does not distract from training, you need to wear special underwear - fitness tops, they are also called bras. They reduce the vibration amplitude. Let's figure out how to deceive the laws of physics with the help of sports tops and enjoy sports.

Why girls wear sports bras and what are their benefits

Humanity plans to colonize Mars, and some of the girls still do not know the main rule: no sports bra, no training. Neither the most comfortable everyday bra, nor the two best bras stacked on top of each other, can replace specialized sports underwear. It's not aesthetics, it's anatomy. Women's breasts are very different from men's. It has no muscles, it is supported only by ligaments and skin. Therefore, even during a step, the chest fluctuates. This happens regardless of size.

A group of researchers from the UK found that the amplitude of these fluctuations during sports activities can reach 10 centimeters in different directions at the same time. The greater the displacement, the more it affects the stretching of the chest, causing discomfort and pain. Sweat tops can reduce vibration and provide support, but only on one condition: the bra must be properly fitted. Not all women can cope with the search for a suitable model. Among them are those who are seriously involved in sports.

In 2012, participants in the London Marathon were asked if they felt uncomfortable while running. Almost a third - 32% - of girls said they experience chest pain. About 40% of equestrian women - 506 out of 1,265 athletes - admitted to being in pain during exercise, and 59% of them reported at least one problem with an inappropriate bra.

Sports tops are now one of the best-selling sports products in the world. A lot of money is invested in development and production, so each new model is better than the previous one. It's not just support that improves. Specialized sportswear has other benefits as well.

• Do not rub. Modern tops are made seamless or with a minimum of smooth seams that do not irritate the skin, and all accessories are placed so that it does not come into contact with the body.
• They do not accumulate moisture. Sconces are mostly made of synthetic fibers, which absorb sweat and bring it to the surface layer of the fabric, where it dries quickly.
• Comfortable: the sconces fit snugly to the body, wide straps distribute the load and do not fall off.

What sports bras are

With decades of research into the effects of exercise on women's breasts, the sports tops industry has leaped forward. Now these are not primitive jogbras from the 70s, but modern pieces of equipment with a wide range of applications.

These are the constructions:

• Compression tops. Looks like cropped tees. They press the chest, prevent it from shifting during exercise. Such bras are sewn from elastic materials that fit snugly to the body. Tops are put on over the head, so after an intense workout, when the bras are wet with sweat, it is not very convenient to take them off.
• Or, as usual, with cups. Here's a different effect. Instead of squeezing, they support each breast separately, preventing it from shifting. Cup tops are similar to everyday bras. As in ordinary ones, they can be push-up or bones, or space technologies can also be used: for example, adaptive materials made of foam and polymers, which stretch at rest and freeze under load. Encapsulated bras are usually fastened with hooks on the back or under the bust, so problems with putting them on or taking them off are excluded.

• Combined. They combine the advantages of the first two types: they tightly press the chest to the body and at the same time support it.

Sports tops are distinguished by the degree of support:

• Light (referred to as Light Support on the label). Suitable for static activities in which you do not need to actively move, run or jump. They are worn for yoga, Pilates, stretching, and are worn on hiking trips. You can also use a top with a slight degree of support as an underwear every day, but only if the breasts are not larger than the size of the B cups.
• Medium (Medium Support). Ideal for medium intensity workouts: running, climbing, strength training, fitness, downhill and cross-country skiing, cycling. The top supports or compresses the chest well and at the same time does not interfere with blood flow. That is why bras with medium support are recommended to be worn for long-distance running, and for short ones - with a high one.
• High (High Support). Only for very intense training with jumping or shock elements: crossfit, sprint running, horse riding, tennis.

Sports bras use different types of fabrics:

• Cotton tops are sewn for classes without dynamic load - yoga and breathing practices. The natural material is breathable and pleasant to the touch. But if you sweat in it, the jersey will get wet and dry for a long time.
• Synthetic fabrics are the basis of most sports tops. Most often, sconces combine several materials with different properties. Polyester yarns enhance the durability of the top, while nylon and lycra stretch excellently. The addition of different fibers and different weaving techniques only improve the characteristics of the fabrics.

How to choose a sports top

If the top is selected correctly, it will not chafe the skin and will support the chest. No pain or inconvenience, just the pleasure of your favorite activity.

Here's what to look for when choosing:

Breast size. Experts advise to wear compression tops for girls with small breasts (cup sizes of regular bras A and B). Encapsulated to fit all sizes, ideal for breasts with C and up cups. Combined ones most effectively support breasts of size C and above, but they are constructively suitable for everyone in general.

Activity type. For a calm and static load, such as yoga or Pilates, a top without compression with a light degree of support and made of cotton, if you prefer natural materials, or from synthetics, if wear resistance is important, is suitable. For trail races, marathons, hiking, climbing - synthetic bra with medium support. These dry quickly, the fabric stretches less and serves for a long time, unlike cotton jersey. Tops with a high level of support are chosen for horse riding, crossfit, tennis or if you run sprint distances.

 The location and width of the straps. The wider they are, the less they will chafe during dynamic movements or walking under a backpack. Tops with straps criss-cross on the back are more comfortable to sit, and they are also easier to remove. If the straps have length adjusters, they should be positioned so that they do not come into contact with the skin and straps of the bag or backpack.

Belt width. A belt is called a tape that runs under the chest. In sports tops, it is the belt and cups, and not the straps, as many people think, that support the chest. The wider the tape, the better the support.