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Less bounce for the ounce...
 Crufts,
once again, has brought dog agility to a wider audience and put it under increased scrutiny.
For those of you who were at the NEC or watched at home, there's a good chance that you might
have commented on some of the handlers as well as the dogs. Be honest. You can't deny that some
of the more 'traditionally built' ladies were attracting more attention than their four legged
companions. Selaine Messem of LessBounce is concerned that some of our larger ladies are
running without adequate support.
In all
the excitement and preparation for the event, it is easy to forget ourselves, the owners.
Ladies, did you know that your breasts can be permanently damaged if you persist in
running without proper support. Research has shown up to 56% of women experience
breast pain when exercising. This is due to the large displacement of the breasts, which
in addition to the discomfort can cause embarrassment.
The female breast is composed
of mammary glands and fatty tissue, covered by skin and attached to the chest wall by
ligaments. The muscle is deep so cannot help much in supporting the breast. Depending
upon the size and shape of the breasts, they may not get a lot of stability.
The Shock Absorber study at
Portsmouth University found that the unsupported bust moves in a figure of eight. This
movement is reduced by 38% using an everyday bra, but up to 74% in a sports bra.
The average 36C breast weighs 200-300g and moving uncontrolled this puts significant
strain on the outer skin and Cooper's Ligaments, thin bands interwoven into the breast
that hold up the bust. Damage to the bust in this manner may be permanent and
irreversible. Over time, experts surmise that ligaments and skin might lose their
elasticity, allowing the Cooper's Ligaments to stretch and the breast to sag. Another important factor to remember
when deciding whether to wear a sports bra is the comfort level. Excessive
movement may well be causing pain, which
although temporary, may prove a distraction when running a course.
Whether you are in the ring or at
training, if you have unsupported breast tissue bouncing about, it can be pretty uncomfortable.
The snug fit of a sports bra relieves the strain on ligaments and can help you concentrate on
your tight turns and contacts.
 Choosing a sports bra
Increasingly it is
possible to find a bra that will give a nice shape under your outfit as well as reducing
the bounce whilst running. There is a host of suitable styles and colours available for
all shapes and sizes, full busted or flat chested.
- Crop Top style
- Non-wired
- Underwired
- Front fastening
- Racer back
When choosing a sports bra to
wear on show day, it is probably best to go for one that looks more like a regular bra to
enable it to sit under your clothes more comfortably as well as one which is provides the
best support and is most comfortable. Shock Absorber and Triumph both produce a good
range of reasonably priced sports bras from a 32B through to 44G that will provide shape
and support. A specialist supplier such as LessBounce.com will be able to provide further
guidance on which bra may be most appropriate for you.
Yours sports bra should fit
snugly with no bulges or gaps and should significantly reduce breast movement compared to
your everyday bra. Everyone’s bust is different so you may need to try a couple before
finding the perfect bra for you. It is not just the larger breasted
women who suffer breast pain when running but smaller breasted women can often suffer just as
much. So please do look after your own grooming as well to enable everyone to focus on the
dog’s performance rather than your own! Remember all eyes are on you and your dog.
 About
the author
Selaine Messem was unable to find a good sports bra locally and decided
to set up a company to enable women to buy the products they need. She has run LessBounce.com
the UK’s leading independent sports bra retailer since April 2000. She
has been the Wessex Businesswoman of the Year 2003 and also runner up in Wiltshire
Businessperson of the Year 2005 and LessBounce was the winner of the Wiltshire Small Business
of the Year 2004. LessBounce stock the widest range of sports bras in the world.
Selaine teaches aerobics and is a
personal trainer. In addition, she trains hard herself having completed the London Marathon and
Playtex Moon Walk. She sees over 1000 ladies a week taking part in different activities and,
therefore, has a good idea of what works and what doesn’t!
The business, Selaine and her dog
Harry are based in Netheravon on Salisbury Plain.
First posted: 09/04/07
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