Beat the bounce - whatever your bust size with boobylicious facts from Derriere

Beat the bounce - whatever your bust size!

Did you know, breast pain is reportedly experienced by over 70% of women during exercise - unsurprising given that more than half of the ‘bounce’ experienced is from vertical forces [Ref 1]. But this force applies to all women - not just those blessed (or cursed!) with bigger boobs. Dr. Cynthia S. Vaughn, a spokesperson for the American Chiropractic Association, was reported as saying on huffingtonpost.com that wearing a good bra as a small-chested woman is: “Not so much for current times, but for later in life.” So, bear in mind that as a rider, you are protecting your bust for the future by choosing a good bra for riding, whatever your bust size. 

Hanna Murray concurs - the Swedish dressage rider has competed at championship para-dressage level as well as able-bodied dressage, and won a bronze medal at the recent Swedish championships, riding Mogway. She’s the proud owner of a modest bust, and says that women of all sizes shouldn’t skimp on getting a good bra. “Despite not having an especially large bust, I find that the right sports bra is supportive, and really helps me in my riding,” she tells us.

Three boobylicious bra facts-

1. Not wearing a sports bra can lead to tension and strain in the upper back and neck - the excess weight from unsupported breasts means the back muscles have to work harder to keep the shoulders in the correct position. Dressage rider Avril Clinton Forde agrees. “With the right bra securing your ‘tat-tas’, you can relax more into the sitting trot,” she says. “When I’m in a normal bra, I have to hold my shoulders up, tense my pectoral muscles, and hold my core tighter; I would do this without thinking, simply to stop my boobs bouncing! However with a good bra, because your boobs are secure, you can as a rider relax those muscles more, and go with the movement.”
2. Keep a diary of your measurements - your breast size can change due to fluctuations in your weight or hormonal factors. Measure yourself to determine your bra size around every six months.
3. Remember - the fit of the band around your torso is crucial - it needs to sit level on your back. Derriere designed its Sportief sports bra with the encapsulation benefits of underwiring, without using actual underwire, ensuring an effective garment for all riders. After all, underwired bras have been linked to health conditions including breast pain, injury, rubbing, chaffing, mastitis, and allergies.

Our Sportief Bra is made from high-tech, breathable, temperature-regulating fabric. It boasts comfortable, robust straps to help alleviate neck strain, and the fabric wicks away moisture, to evaporate; a clever, two tier fabric system breaks the surface tension of sweat, and propels it through the hydrophobic layer into a secondary, natural wicking outer layer.

Avril Clinton Forde says she has been blessed with bouncing bosoms. “I have had a baby, but they have managed to stay up; no tennis balls in a sock for me!” She tells us, with her trademark humour. “They are bouncy melons though, and can hurt in a normal bra.” Avril tells us that ‘pre Derriere’, she never bothered with a sports bra. “I used them once or twice, but got nothing from them. I used to ride in my very good Victoria Secrets bras, as they have super support, and to stop them from sliding down, I was crossing the straps to get more support; but they still had too much movement! The Derriere Sportief sports bra has really stopped the 'up bounce', and managed to halt the momentum. No kidding, the Sportief bra is phenomenal. I hate riding without it! I am a sports bra convert, or more specifically, a Sportief convert,” she says.

[Ref 1. Gehlsen & Albohm; Scurr, White & Hedger].

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