Berlei sports bras - first round of tests released
Issue: Volume 29 Number 4
As part of a three-year partnership with the Australian Sports Commission, Berlei, Official Sports Bra supplier to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), have recently embarked on the first round of testing for the year with AIS Biomechanics and Performance Analysis.
Problem
Breast movement during exercise is a serious problem. It has been reported that 56 per cent of women experience breast pain during exercise (Lorentzen & Lawson, 1987). The breast has no muscle and little internal support, relying on the skin and tiny internal structures called Cooper’s ligaments to give it shape and to provide support. Previous testing has shown that breasts can go through a large range of vertical movement when unsupported. Tests conducted at the AIS showed that an unsupported ‘B’ cup breast had up to 8cm of vertical ‘bounce’, increasing up to 18cm for a ‘DD’ cup participant. As well as causing pain this may cause damage, permanent deformation and sag to the Cooper’s ligaments and skin. External support is required to preserve breast tissue and to enhance participation in exercise. This has led to Berlei’s collaboration with the AIS and a combined focus of research and development in this area.
This type of research is important for a number of reasons:
- Elite sports - agood quality bra is important to an elite female athlete’s performance. If the female is comfortable and the movement and pain in the breasts reduced they can focus on their activity and performance.
- Encouraging females to participate in sport - with the growing obesity problem in Australia participation in exercise is very important. However, for larger breasted women, the pain they experience from breast movement may be a disincentive to exercise. If the level of movement of the breast can be reduced by wearing a supportive bra it may encourage more women to participate in exercise.
- The data and general testing collaboration genuinely feeds into further design work.
- The postural analysis also has relevance for design of other bras – especially full figure and heavy bust bras.
Aims
Berlei’s new Sport bra range testing was undertaken in October 2006 to examine the reduction in breast movement of the bras tested. The aim of the testing was to assess and rank the support characteristics of sports bras and provide associated information about the performance of each bra. To evaluate the qualities of each bra, the support of each garment offered was calculated by tracking the vertical movement of the nipples over the chest wall. The vertical breast movement while wearing sports bras were compared to the vertical breast movement when unsupported, that is bare breasted trials, to identify how the sports bras reduced this vertical movement (bounce).
Methods
In-depth biomechanical analysis of breast movement was undertaken by the AIS Biomechanics department using three-dimensional analysis and capturing of high-speed footage of the breast movement. Participants were tested both in a range of bras and also unsupported in three stages: walking, jogging and running on a treadmill. Retro-reflective markers were placed on the breasts in both the sports bras and unsupported breasts. A Vicon Motion Analysis System was used with infrared cameras to track the movement of the markers during motion. The breast movement was reconstructed in three-dimensions on the computer to indicate the degree of vertical breast movement or “bounce” whilst exercising. High-speed camera footage was also collected to give a detailed image of the amount of breasts movement as a back up to the Vicon system.
Information on pain rating, comfort and bra preference was also gathered. This information allows AIS Biomechanics to assess if participants perception of pain, comfort and bra preference match the bounce reduction measured for each bra, and therefore evaluate the bra based on all these measures.
Results
Testing of Berlei’s Sport bra range has shown that the top range of sports bras can reduce the amount of breast bounce in excess of 50 per cent while exercising.
Research results also indicate that breast bounce reduction is improved when bras are worn in the cross back setting opposed to the traditional over the shoulder setting.
Berlei High Performance Underwire bra was deemed to be the best bra of the new Berlei Sport range in comparison to competitors following assessment of all measures: bounce reduction, pain, comfort and preference. On average it reduced bounce reduction by 51 per cent, although the reduction was up to 58 per cent with the straps in the crossover position (for jog and run conditions combined).
There was one competitor bra that provided similar support but was ranked low in terms of comfort and perceived as ‘average’ by the participants, compared to the High Performance Underwire bra, which was perceived as ‘very good’.
The Berlei New Legend bra was tested on larger-sized 10E and 12F participants. It was an outstanding performer once again, with an average of 58 per cent breast bounce reduction in the larger breasted females when the straps were in the crossover position and a 51 per cent reduction in the over the shoulder position (for jog and run conditions combined).
The study highlighted that not only breast bounce reduction, but reduced br
east pain and high comfort led to on bra style being preferred over others. The majority of Berlei’s bras were rated ‘very good’ compared to other competitors and therefore would be recommended over competitor bras tested.
Conclusion
It is important for all females to wear a supportive sports bra while exercising. A good quality bra will assist in reducing pain, damage to the breast tissue and breast sag. The bra must be a good fit so it is recommended to arrange a fitting with a professional bra fitter.
Sport bras with crossover straps, such as the Berlei New Legend Racer Back generally provide greater support. A good quality bra should reduce vertical breast bounce and pain but also be comfortable. Berlei Sport bras tested rated superior over competitors in these areas.
Reference
Lorentzen, D and Lawson, L 1987, 'Selected sports bras: a biomechanical analysis of breast motion while jogging', The Physician and Sports Medicine, 15(5), pp. 128-39.
