Lift Your Game

Get it right. According to sports physiotherapist Deirdre McGhee from the University of Wollongong’s Biomechanics Research Laboratory, an unsupportive bra can give you a pain in the neck (and back and arms), muscle tension and headaches. Choosing the right sports bra is so important for all women, regardless of breast size, that McGhee wrote her PhD and published a booklet on the subject: Sports Bra Fitness ($10; uow.edu.au).

Banish the Bounce with McGhee’s 8 Top Tips:

1. Have a professional bra fitter measure you. Your breasts change constantly due to fluctuations in your weight and hormones, so it’s worth checking your current size every time you buy a new bra. 2. Find bras that are comfortable when you hook them on the middle or loosest hook. Select a number of models that completely cover your breasts without the fabric wrinkling. 3. Test the amount of breast movement each bra allows. While you’re in the changing room, run up and down and jump on the spot, watching your nipples in a mirror. Short-list the designs that allow the least movement. If you’re a D cup or larger, consider wearing two bras at once to minimise bounce. 4. Check the underwire; it should sit on your ribs, not your breasts. It should not dig into your skin at any point. 5. Lift your arms over your head. The chest band should not move up or down your back. 6. The chest band should support most of your breast weight. Check by sliding the straps off your shoulders—your breasts should not move more than a centimetre or two. 7. Look at the shoulder straps. If they’re digging into your shoulders, the bra is not supportive enough. 8. Lastly, consider the fabric. Ensure that it’s strong, breathable, wicking (it transfers moisture away from your skin) and seam-free across the nipples.

Fact: If you wear your sports bra regularly, you should replace it every three to six months.

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