A professional bra could reduce pain experienced by women with large breasts, research shows

Finding the perfect bra can be a real challenge for women. It's a struggle that all women understand, dealing with issues like small cup size, a tight underwire, fitting cup size but wrong band size, the list is endless.

The added complexity of fluctuating bust sizes during the menstrual cycle makes the quest for the perfect bra even more difficult.

This struggle is particularly tough for women with extra-large breasts, who experience pain as result of poor-fitting bras that do not provide adequate breast support. They may experience chronic back, neck and shoulder pain. 

Researchers from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) have found that improving breast support with a professional bra can reduce or even alleviate back pain symptoms.

The evidence-based research involved 24 women with D cup sizes or larger. Instead of the usual 2D measurements, they used 3D measurements of breast height, breast volume, and body frame.

The wire-free bra is designed to provide relief. It has a diagonally positioned underband that supports and lifts the breast higher on your chest and lower on your back. So, the weight shifts from your shoulders and neck to your lower back, where the muscles are stronger.

"We know that between 75% and 100% of women wear the wrong-sized bra every day. Many don't adjust their straps or alter their hooks as needed due to washing, wear and tear, and changes in breast size during the menstrual cycle,” Dr. Lauren Haworth, a UCLan Senior Research Assistant, explained.

“Most women aren't aware of what a correct bra fit looks or feels like, and there's a real need to educate women about the importance of bra fit," Haworth continued.

Wearing an ill-fitting bra persistently can cause pain, discomfort, and even poor posture.

The researchers argue that the results of their study show a direct link between better bra fit, increased breast support, and reduced pain.

The team of doctors further suggests professional fitting is an economically feasible alternative to purchasing a bra from a high-end stores. 

The study also discovered a reduction in breast support provided by the professionally-fitted bras, which were purchased from high-street retailers, after just four weeks and only a 70% success rate of bras fitting correctly even with a professional fitting. 

The results are significant and the researchers seek to encourage women worldwide who face daily struggles with pain caused by having large breasts and have no solution to poor bra fit.

“This research shows, by improving bra fit quality and altering the resting position of the breast tissue on the chest wall, a correctly fitting bra may significantly relieve symptoms of non-specific back pain among larger-breasted women," it concluded.