A new study in Portsmouth is recruiting female volunteers to help researchers understand how sports bras support different body types during physical activity.
The research project, Redefining Breast Support Requirements (Movement Efficiency), is designed to assess how sports bras support women of different bra sizes through practical testing, which includes running at 10km per hour on a treadmill with movement-tracking sensors.
The testing, already completed by Olympic gold medallist and British rower Lola Anderson, involves running in different sports bras and also without a bra for comparison.
Participants will also take part in a bra fitting, complete a series of questionnaires, and have their breasts scanned using a handheld, non-radiation light-emitting device to gather additional data.
The study will further explore how bra sizes are typically based on band and cup measurements. This one size fits all approach does not always work - as cup size depends on band size and the same cup size can fit very differently on different people. This suggests the need for better ways to measure and design bras for improved comfort and support beyond traditional sizing.
The overall aim of the study is to enhance sports bra design and fit by gaining a more accurate understanding of the support needs of physically active women across a range of body types and bra sizes, with the goal of creating better solutions for all.
Dr Nichola Renwick , Senior Research Associate in Breast Biomechanics in the Research Group in Breast Health (RGBH) at the University of Portsmouth, said: "We frequently hear from women with larger breasts who feel there aren't supportive options available to them.
"This often causes them to skip physical activities, which can negatively impact their lives. Our aim is to identify what good breast support really means for larger sizes and to help create better options for everyone.
"It has also been fantastic to have Lola with us, sparking valuable conversations around breast health and bra considerations in high-performance sport."
Lola added: "A correctly fitted sports bra is the most important piece of kit for any female athlete and finding a bra that fits comfortably as well as helps my performance is invaluable.
"I didn't know how important they were until I was about 23 or 24, and I've felt a huge difference in having a correctly fitted, supportive bra since then. To see that backed up with the data during my visit to Portsmouth, was really reaffirming.
"In professional sport we're always looking for those marginal gains, so to see the data supporting the wear of a correctly fitted bra just shows how that can help women to perform better and also be more comfortable."
Participants will be required to attend an appointment lasting no longer than 90 minutes at the University of Portsmouth's Spinnaker Building .
Eligibility Criteria
Females aged 18 - 39
Have not had breast surgery
Are not pregnant
Have not breastfed in the past 12 months
The Research Group in Breast Health (RGBH) , which Dr Renwick is part of, marked the 10th anniversary of its bra testing unit last year. Over the past decade, the team has tested more than 700 sports bras on 8,000+ women - and this latest study is a continuation of that important work.
