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Supporting female performance in sport and fitness
Supporting female performance in sport and fitness

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6 Getting the right fit

The University of Portsmouth Breast Health Research Group recommends using a five-point fit technique to evaluate whether the fit of a sports bra is optimal (see Figure 3 below). Using bra size can be misleading since the same size bra can actually come up as different sizes across varying styles and brands. It is much better to establish whether the bra has a good fit, rather than focusing on whether it is a certain size. If you wish to find out more the following video explains the five-point fit guide: Does your bra fit correctly? [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .

The image shows the five points to consider when selecting a sports bra. There is a picture of a sports bra with arrows indicating the straps (The straps should be adjusted to be comfortable. Not too tight they dig in the skin but not too loose that they sag or slip), underwire (Not all sports bras have underwire, but if they do, the wire should follow the natural crease of the breast and not rest on any of the breast tissue), cups (There should enclose the breasts with no building or gaping at the tops and sides. If the cup material puckers, the cup size is probably too big), under band (This should sit firmly around the chest. It shouldn’t slide around as you move, be too tight that it’s uncomfortable, affect breathing or cause flesh to bulge at the edges. It should be level all the way around) and the front of the bra (This is the lower edge, between the cups. It should sit flat against the body and not gape away from the skin. If the front lifts away you may need to increase the cup size.
Figure 3 The five-point bra fit guide.
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The image shows the five points to consider when selecting a sports bra. There is a picture of a sports bra with arrows indicating the straps (The straps should be adjusted to be comfortable. Not too tight they dig in the skin but not too loose that they sag or slip), underwire (Not all sports bras have underwire, but if they do, the wire should follow the natural crease of the breast and not rest on any of the breast tissue), cups (There should enclose the breasts with no building or gaping at the tops and sides. If the cup material puckers, the cup size is probably too big), under band (This should sit firmly around the chest. It shouldn’t slide around as you move, be too tight that it’s uncomfortable, affect breathing or cause flesh to bulge at the edges. It should be level all the way around) and the front of the bra (This is the lower edge, between the cups. It should sit flat against the body and not gape away from the skin. If the front lifts away you may need to increase the cup size.

Figure 3 The five-point bra fit guide.