Headache after exercising? Learn the 3 secrets to stop this…

Perfect fit guaranteed

After an hour in the gym I can’ wait to take my sports bra off. That feeling of bliss and relief…. No longer do the straps give me a headache, my shoulders stop hurting and I can breathe better because the underband stops crushing my ribs.

Does this sound like you?

You’re not alone!

It turns out that most sports bras are creating health issues for women. And this makes sense when you think about the fact that the design is seldom done by women.

Sport Medicine Australia has researched the need for a good and supportive sports bra when exercising.

Research has shown that during activities such as running and jumping, bare breasts move up and down as much as 12 cm. This is due to insufficient anatomical support within your breasts. [ read more about it here ]

FACT

16D breasts weigh approximately 600 grams each.

That’s as much as 1.2 litres of milk hanging from the front of your chest.

Just think about that... 1.2 kilos moving 12 cm up and down every time you're exercising... no wonder they stretch!

So a sports bra needs to be able to support quite a bit of weight without putting too much strain on your shoulders. It also needs to stop the vertical movement of breast tissue while exercising. No wonder the wrong bra can give you a headache.

I’ll let you in on a little secret… actually 3 secrets…

What to look for in your next sports bra to avoid another uncomfortable experience in the gym:

Secret 1: You need to wear the correct size

• Your underband needs to be tight around your chest but not too restrictive. Most of the support actually comes from this underband so make sure it’s not too loose. (When the underband is too loose you’ll find it creeps up on the back)
• Don’t go too tight either through as you still need to be able to breathe. (quick tip when you go shopping for a new bra… make sure the underband fits snug on the loosest hook. The fabric will stretch once you start exercising and you will have room to move.
• The cup size is important. The cup should surround (encapsulate) your breast tissue without cutting in (you need to see two breasts, not four!). The wire needs to sit under the breast tissue and point diagonally towards your armpit, not up towards your shoulder. (for more measurement tips, check out this blog post)

Secret 2: You bra needs to have padded straps

• This is important as the padding works as a shock absorber. The more shock absorption you have, the less your shoulders will hurt.

Secret 3: Remove the pressure from your shoulders.

• Does your sports bra transfer the pressure across your shoulders and not just put pressure on your shoulders? For example - check the back of the Barcelona Bra below. Because this bra has been designed for cup sizes up to an F cup it was important to focus on this pressure distribution. That’s why the T-bar design was created.
• Can you hook your bra into a cross at the back? (and can you easily unhook the straps after you finish your workout?)

And as a bonus secret - ideally your bra should wick moisture away from your body. A wet bra creates chafing and skin irritation.

Want to stop having a headache after exercising? Check out the Q-Linn sports bra.