High Support Bras & Back Pain: Fact vs. Fiction
- Sports bras, popular for their "bounce reduction" capabilities, may pose unseen risks to spinal health, according to new research from the University of Portsmouth.The study, published in the...
- Chris Mills and his team used motion capture, force platforms, and 3D surface scanners to examine how breast movement affects spinal rotational forces.
- The findings suggest that while sports bras are meaningful for reducing breast pain during exercise, completely eliminating bounce could increase stress on the spine.
A new study reveals a surprising link between sports bras and spinal health. The research, from the University of Portsmouth, shows that while high-support sports bras effectively reduce breast movement during exercise, excessive bounce reduction could lead to increased spinal loading and potential musculoskeletal issues. The study emphasizes the crucial need to find the right balance, as bras that completely eliminate bounce may inadvertently strain the spine. Researchers utilized a unique female-specific musculoskeletal model to analyze torso motion and spinal moments. Discover how finding the sweet spot between breast support and spinal health could revolutionize your workout routine. News Directory 3 has the details, so stay tuned for what’s next in bra design.
Sports Bras: Excessive Bounce Reduction Linked to Spinal Strain
Updated June 05, 2025
Sports bras, popular for their “bounce reduction” capabilities, may pose unseen risks to spinal health, according to new research from the University of Portsmouth.The study, published in the European Journal of sport Science, indicates that high-support bras designed to minimize breast movement during exercise could lead to musculoskeletal issues.
Dr. Chris Mills and his team used motion capture, force platforms, and 3D surface scanners to examine how breast movement affects spinal rotational forces. Their research, employing a unique female-specific musculoskeletal model, explored how different levels of breast support influence torso motion, breast forces, and spinal moments during running. The team focused on sports bra benefits and potential drawbacks.
The findings suggest that while sports bras are meaningful for reducing breast pain during exercise, completely eliminating bounce could increase stress on the spine. Simulated conditions revealed that bras preventing all breast movement led to higher spinal moments, perhaps increasing the risk of lower back pain. Researchers stress the importance of balancing breast support with spinal health considerations in sports bra design for optimal musculoskeletal health.
“While a supportive sports bra is crucial for exercise comfort, excessive bounce reduction may place additional strain on spinal muscles, increasing the risk of back pain,” Dr. Mills said.
Professor Wakefield-Scurr, of the Research Group in Breast Health, added that striving for maximum bounce reduction may inadvertently pose challenges to spinal health during activities like running. The study highlights the need for bra manufacturers to consider the unseen musculoskeletal impacts on the human body in their designs, balancing comfort, breast support, and holistic health.
The musculoskeletal model enabled researchers to gain a detailed understanding of changes in spinal moments following simulated changes in breast motion during running. Previous research by the Portsmouth team used the model to predict changes in spinal moments after breast surgery.
What’s next
Dr. Mills believes the musculoskeletal model could become a useful tool in predicting appropriate and personalized rehabilitation recommendations, which could help ease the loading on the spine after breast surgeries. future research aims to determine the optimal amount of bounce reduction to reduce exercise-induced breast pain and minimize internal loading on the spine during physical activity.