Wearing a sports bra during exercise can reduce breast movement by 13 to 20 percent. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent study by the Korea Consumer Agency has found that wearing a sports bra during exercise can reduce breast movement by 13 to 20 percent, potentially improving workout efficiency and preventing breast pain and injury.
However, the agency notes that support and comfort levels vary significantly between products, emphasizing the importance of choosing a sports bra appropriate for one’s specific exercise needs.
The agency released its findings on September 5, detailing a comprehensive analysis of seven popular sports bra brands. The study involved 30 women in their 20s who alternated between wearing sports bras and regular bras while walking and running on a treadmill.
When running 15 steps wearing a sports bra, the total breast movement distance averaged 176.7 cm, compared to 220 cm when wearing a regular bra — a reduction of 43.3 cm or 20%. For fast walking, the difference was 145 cm versus 167.4 cm, a decrease of 22.4 cm or 13%.
“The breast is composed of glandular tissue and fat layers, suspended from the chest wall by Cooper’s ligaments,” a representative from the agency explained. “Continuous movement during exercise can stress the breasts and potentially damage these ligaments, which is why we recommend wearing sports bras.”
In terms of breast support, products from New Balance (NBN9E2P022) and Adidas (IQ3377) were rated as superior.
However, the agency emphasized that bras with stronger support often exerted more pressure on the shoulders and were reported as more difficult to put on and take off. The Adidas model, while providing excellent support, was rated as the most uncomfortable in terms of movement.
Conversely, a product from Andar (AMFBT-01) offered moderate support but was rated most comfortable by participants, with relatively low pressure when worn.
Sweat absorption and moisture-wicking properties were found to be superior in the New Balance and Adidas products. All seven tested products were free from harmful substances and showed satisfactory color fastness and dimensional stability after exposure to sweat, friction, sunlight, and washing.
However, the study noted some areas for improvement. A Lululemon product (LW2D86A) showed potential for color bleeding when left wet for extended periods. A New Balance product had discrepancies in its fabric composition labeling, while an Under Armour product (1377916) did not use standardized fiber names.
Additionally, Lululemon and Mulawear (AWNEBR306) lacked online size selection information based on body measurements.
The Korea Consumer Agency stated that it would provide this information on its Consumer24 website (www.consumer.go.kr) to aid consumers in making informed choices about functional sportswear quality and safety.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
