Sports bra
A sports bra is a bra that provides support to the breasts during physical exercise. Sturdier than typical bras, they minimize breast movement and alleviate discomfort.[1] Many women wear sports bras to reduce pain and physical discomfort caused by breast movement during exercise. Some sports bras are designed to be worn as outerwear during exercise such as running. There are also sports bras with extra padding for exercises that involve some kind of trauma to the breasts.[1]
The sports bra was deemed a serious innovation which gave women the confidence and comfort to play sports, which came with a revolution in women's sport. In 2022 its inventors, Lisa Lindahl, Polly Smith, and Hinda Miller (formerly Hinda Schreiber), were admitted to the US National Inventors Hall of Fame.[2]
History
The first commercially available sports bra was the "Free Swing Tennis Bra" introduced by Glamorise Foundations, Inc. in 1975.[3]
The first general exercise bra, initially called a "jockbra", was invented in 1977 by Lisa Lindahl and theater costume designer Polly Smith with the help of Smith's assistant, Hinda Schreiber. Both Lindahl and her sister, Victoria Woodrow, complained about their bad experience exercising in ordinary bras, having experienced runaway straps, chafing and sore breasts. During the course of Lindahl and Smith's exploration for a better alternative, it was suggested that what they needed was a jockstrap for women's breasts.[4] In the costume shop of Royall Tyler Theatre at the University of Vermont, Lindahl and Smith actually sewed two jockstraps together and nicknamed it a "jockbra". It was later renamed a "jogbra".[4] One of their original Jogbras is bronzed and on display near the costume shop of the theatre. Two others are housed by the Smithsonian and another by the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.[5]
In 1990,
In 1999, at the
Design challenges
Sports bras can either encapsulate or compress breasts. Bras that encapsulate breasts have molded cups designed to fit around each breast. Bras that compress are designed to restrict movement by holding the breasts firmly against the body. Encapsulation-type bras are generally more effective at reducing discomfort, while compression bras may be more effective for high-intensity activities.
The most common sports bra is basically designed like a
Sports bras are also worn by women after certain surgical procedures. In those situations, a front-closing sports bra with a compression, seamless cup is recommended for healing and comfort. Certain fabrics such as Lycra have been found to help reduce swelling and help "even-out" a bustline that has been altered by a surgical procedure.
Sports bras are also manufactured for men with large breasts to enable them to take part more comfortably in physical activity. Some descriptions used euphemistically to describe bras for men are chest binders, compression vests or shimmels.[10]
Problems arise from the shoulder straps of standard bras. Standard well-fitting bras are constructed in the form of a "square frame", with all dimensions adjusted for each woman in a normal standing position, with arms to the sides. When a woman performs an activity which requires her to lift her arms above the shoulders, the frame is strained because it is anchored by the chest band, putting direct pressure on the shoulder
Levels of control
Different physical activities require different levels of breast control.
Some female athletes are concerned that a sports bra may interfere with breathing, but even though increased pressure on the rib cage has been demonstrated, no significant effect on breathing can be shown.[13]
Benefits
All of the women in the United Kingdom's 2020 Olympic team were fitted with custom bras to deliver comfort and benefit. Research by Joanna Wakefield-Scurr indicates that an ill-fitting bra can shorten an athlete's stride by 4 centimetres (1.6 in). A survey found that about a quarter of women athletes suffer breast pain. Women rowers were offered different designs to runners because the latter suffered higher impacts and this necessitated individual support for each breast. In the case of competitive shooters the purpose can just be to keep them out of the way. Lorraine Lambert had a special design because she is a competitive shooter. She has to avoid her breasts touching her gun which could result in disqualification.[14]
Recognition
Lisa Lindahl, Hinda Miller (formerly Hinda Schreiber), and Polly Smith were inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2022 for their patented sports bra.[15]
See also
- Athleisure
- Fitness fashion
- Spandex
- Sportswear
- Underwear as outerwear
References
- ^ ISBN 9780763732523.
- ^ Honderich, Holly (11 May 2022). "The 'jockstrap' that revolutionised women's sports". BBC News.
- ^ Zorn, Marc (2014-09-18). "When Were Sports Bras Invented". Vision Launch Media. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ^ a b Roberts, Jacob (2017). "Women's work". Distillations. 3 (1): 6–11. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ Dorschner, Cheryl (30 March 2005). "History-Changing Garment Born in Theater Costume Shop". Archived from the original on 2014-05-16. PDF
- ^ "A History of the Sports Bra". Women's Adventure Magazine. March–April 2007. Archived from the original on 2010-02-17.
- ^ Jere Longman (July 5, 2003). "The Sports Bra Seen Round the World". New York Times.
- ^ "100 Greatest Sports Photos of All Time #14 - Brandi Chastain - Women's World Cup". Sports Illustrated. 10 July 1999. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013.
- ^ Casselman, Anne (2005). "The Physics of Bras". Discover. 26 (11). Retrieved 2014-07-31.
- About.com. Archived from the originalon 2007-09-06. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
- ^ Kowalske, Karen (August 2006). "Health Watch -- Women's Health: Bra Straps". The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dallas. Archived from the original on 21 September 2006.
- PMID 11153784.
- S2CID 11323078.
- ^ "'They're not treating us as small men': Team GB women get the right bras". the Guardian. 2021-06-18. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
- ^ "Complete list of NIHF inductees". Official website of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
External links
- Given, Karen (February 24, 2017). "From the 'Jockbra' to Brandi Chastain: The History of the Sports Bra". Only a Game. WBUR-FM (NPR). Retrieved February 27, 2017.