Over 90% of women wear the wrong sized sports bra, according to Adidas, whose new collection features 43 styles in different sizes that provide the support women need to perform.
Adidas partnered with the University of Portsmouth's Research Group in Breast Health, which discovered that if breasts are not properly supported during running they experience the same G force as an F1 driver and could undergo potentially damaging skin stretch. Meanwhile, unsupported breasts can move up to 19cm during star jumps and 46% of schoolgirls surveyed reported their breasts affected participation in sports.
"Unknown to many, athletes may require the same amount of breast support during power walking as they do during sprinting, and a lack of support has the potential to cause irreversible damage," said Prof Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, head of the research group. "Breast movement in sport continues to be an area that is overlooked, so it's great to have established a long-standing relationship with Adidas. Not only have they invested in sports bra research and development and independent scientific testing, but they recognise the importance of raising awareness of this topic."
Catering to various activities, Everyday bras are designed for lounging and gentle movement while Studio bras are for yoga, pilates and other low-to-mid intensity activity. Train bras provide enhanced support during HIIT and intensive sports or training, while the Run bras offer the highest level of support.
"The wrong sports bra can have a serious impact on performance and efficiency. For example, if you run a marathon, unsupported breasts travel an extra 6km on their own!" said Amy Charlton, Adidas senior product director. "It was a significant undertaking with an all-female team of designers, testers and experts, and we hope this collection will help more sports bra users experience the benefits of added support and better fit, and not be held back when doing the sports they love."
