Did you know that 80% of women are wearing a bra that fits incorrectly right now? 

Specifically, 70% of women are wearing a bra that’s too small for them, and 10% are wearing a bra that’s too big. 

A poorly-fitted bra can cause unflattering bulges and red marks, but that’s not all. The bottom line is that bras that don’t fit properly won’t give you the support you need. 

And, besides being uncomfortable, ill-fitting bras can actually impact your day-to-day activities and lead to other health problems. 

Bras designed to provide enough support, like therapeutic bras, don’t only make you feel more confident but also have many other health benefits. 

1. Reduce Back Pain and Headaches

Studies show that if you are plus-sized and have larger breasts, you’re less likely to be wearing a bra that fits correctly. When your bra doesn’t provide enough support, your back and shoulders take on the additional strain. 

“Bra Strap Syndrome”

“Bra strap syndrome” is the common term for the medical condition known as costoclavicular syndrome, where tight bra straps actually compress the veins and arteries in your shoulders. 

Tight bra straps exert downward pressure on the clavicles, resulting in a narrower costoclavicular passage, resulting in severe pain in the neck and shoulders. Tight bra straps also leave indentations where the tissues of the shoulder have been damaged, and they can also cause ‘rounded’ shoulders. 

Cerviocogenic Headaches 

Aside from shoulder pain, putting strain on your upper back and shoulder muscles can also cause tension in your neck, leading to cervicogenic headaches. 

2. Minimize Skin Irritation

Do you ever have dry, itchy, and inflamed skin under your breasts, armpits, or shoulders? Your tight bra could be the cause. 

Eczema and Rashes

Having a bra that’s too tight can cause chafing around the band and straps, leading to eczema and rashes. The constant rubbing of the tight material on your skin can also cause contact allergy dermatitis, psoriasis, and skin infections. 

Lesions and Lumps

When the hooks in a bra that’s too tight dig into your skin, they can cause lesions and lumps where the tissue has been damaged. 

3. Improve Circulation

When the band of your bra is too tight around your chest, it can restrict blood circulation, impair lymph function, and compress your blood vessels.

Compressed Lymph Nodes

The lymph nodes are responsible for producing white blood cells and filtering out toxins. Wearing a constricting bra – especially one with an underwire – can prevent your lymph nodes from doing their job. More alarmingly, studies have found that compression of the lymphatic vessels has been associated with breast cancer.

Pins and Needles

A tight bra can compress your blood vessels, which can cause ‘pins and needles’ in your arms, as well as other cardiovascular issues.

4. Improve Your Range of Movement

Bras that are too tight can create pressure on your nerves, muscles, and blood vessels around your shoulders, upper back and ribcage. 

Crushed Acromioclavicular joints

Over time, tight bra straps begin to crush the acromioclavicular joint (the top of the shoulder) and can even affect the function and range of movement of your arms.   

Your bra should never hinder your movement. A well-fitted bra’s band should stay in place when you twist, move, and bend over. If the band rides up your back, it means that the straps are too tight. 

5. Improve Your Posture

A correctly fitted bra can provide additional back support, preventing tension and muscle aches in the neck and shoulders. 

Slouching or Slumping

If a woman isn’t comfortable with her particular shape or size, she may arch or slump her shoulders – which can lead to musculoskeletal pain and bad posture.

Wearing a correctly fitted bra improves your posture by redistributing the weight of your breasts evenly across your shoulders and gets your muscles and spine into a better position. 

6. Improve Breathing and Digestion

If larger breasts are not supported properly, their weight on the ribcage can restrict the diaphragm, which can cause problems with breathing and digestion.

 Breathing

Wearing a bra that fits properly lifts the breasts from the diaphragm, allowing you to breathe more deeply.

Digestion

The weight of unsupported breasts, combined with the poor posture they can cause, may also exacerbate heartburn and IBS.

7. Be More Active

Finding a bra that gives you enough support while you are exercising – like a good sports bra – can do wonders for your exercise routine. 

Damage to Breast Structure 

If you don’t wear a properly-fitted sports bra while exercising, you can damage the internal structure of your breasts. This is because breasts contain no muscle – they are supported by a network of skin and connective tissue. Exercising can stretch the skin and supportive ligaments, which can change the shape and appearance of your breasts.

 On top of that, your workout may be more strenuous because your back and neck muscles have to work harder to balance the weight.

Breast Discomfort and Pain

As much as 72% of women who exercise regularly experience breast discomfort or pain, and 85% of women agree that having the right amount of support makes them enjoy exercising more. 

8. Boost Your Confidence

It goes without saying that the correct bra can do wonders for your self-confidence. 

Comfort

A bra that fits perfectly will be the most comfortable to wear – you won’t have to worry about painful chafing, insufficient support, or unsightly bulges on your shoulders and back. 

Appearance

The right bra will lift your breasts and give them shape, no matter what outfit you’re wearing. As an added bonus, the right bra will also lift your bust – revealing your waistline to make you look slimmer. 

Key Takeaways

Choosing a bra that fits you according to your size and shape has many benefits. The right bra can relieve back pain and headaches, improve circulation, and even correct your posture. 

Being comfortable can have an enormous impact on self-confidence – it’s no secret that if you feel good, you’ll look good, too!

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