Boobs bounce, better bras bring better bolstering.

As a runner I was most amused and head noddingly in agreement with the Daily Mail this fine morning.

"Women's bras do not offer enough support when exercising

Dr Joanna Scurr's research revealed that between 45 per cent and 60 per cent of women in Britain experience breast pain when exercising, regardless of their breast size.

An A-cup woman could be prevented from doing sport just as much as a woman with a double F cup, the survey showed.

Breasts also bounce more during exercise - up to 8in (21cm) rather than the maximum 6in (16cm) bounce measured in past studies.

Bras are designed to stop breasts bouncing but Dr Scurr's research showed that breasts also move from side to side and in and out, and ordinary bras are not designed to cope.

The University of Portsmouth scientist also found that breasts move as much during slow jogging as they do at maximum sprint speed.

She said: "There really are women who want to do exercise but who don't have the bras to cope.

"I know of a 16-year-old who was selected to play basketball for the county but she was told to give it up because she couldn't find a bra that made playing possible.

"Breast size and pain caused by exercise can be a real barrier to women doing exercise."

Dr Scurr is working with bra manufacturers in Britain and globally which are vying to design a bra that can lessen movement in all three dimensions and reduce the pain factor.

Seventy women were recruited for the two-year study through the university's student and staff population, gyms and doctors' surgeries.

The University said it is the widest range of breast sizes ever studied and includes women with cup sizes from A up to a double J.

Dr Scurr said: "If women wear the correct form of support, if we can get that right, the use of pain medication is reduced and women can be active and lead healthy lives.

"Studies have shown that medication to reduce breast pain was only successful for 54 per cent of women, but they had to put up with side-effects of the medication, whereas sports bras were shown to be successful at reducing breast pain for 80 per cent of women, with no side-effects at all." "

Well shit. So let me get this straight, wearing a sports bra to do sport is a good idea. Well no shit Sherlock. I am astounded that anyone needs this pointed out to them. I mean for god's sake of course wearing proper support is crucial. I wouldn't wear flip-flops to go jogging, why on earth would I wear a non-sport bra.
And yet I have passed many a lady and winced inside as their boobs bounce and boing all over the place. I've even seen some women sort of run with their hand almost up under their breasts to reduce movement. I always feel like stopping them and asking what their breasts have ever done to them to deserve such treatment.
Now some women have large breasts and find any kind of jogging uncomfortable but there is no need for the painful swinging. The good news is that the sport clothing manufacturers these days have at long last come up with some very high-tech bras indeed. Bras that minimise bounce and firm hold bras that seal breasts into an almost rock solid position and are an absolute delight to wear if sport is your goal (no chaffing, breathable material, amazing shoulder position).
Most good sports shops stock these bras.
There really is no reason to suffer and no need to not partake in a sport becasue of your breasts. Just buy the proper equipment and sally forth.