IS YOUR BRA HARMING YOUR HEALTH?

Wearing the wrong bra size can cause more than discomfort - a poor fit can lead to bigger problems

- EVA-MARIA BOBBERT

LET’S be honest, bra shopping can be frustrating. Different brand sizings are inconsistent and it can be tricky to find something that offers enough hold without pesky side spillage, gaping on the cup or chest pinching.

And trying on bras under fluorescent lights and flanked by full-length mirrors tends to fuel the need for speed over finding the perfect fit. Is it any wonder that most women end up wearing the wrong size?

“Around 85% of women are wearing the wrong bra size,” says Australian physiotherapist Deirdre McGhee. “Why do we tolerate being uncomfortable?”

Finding the right fit isn’t just about the measurements. It's also important to understand the nuances of individual body shapes and breast characteristics.

"Bras are more like clothes than we might think so don't sweat the numbers, rather focus on the feel," says Kirstin Sweeney, general manager of apparel brand Bendon.

If the fit is right, she says, a bra should feel like a second skin - the straps should be firm without digging into your skin, there should be no spillage, the underwire should feel comfortable and the cups should not gape.

If your bra doesn't tick these boxes, it could impact you in the following ways.

1 BACK PAIN 

Too loose or too tight? It turns out both can lead to pain in your neck, back and shoulders. “If a woman comes in with back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain or headaches, it’s a standard part of my treatment to look at the bra fit,” McGhee says.