A million breast bounces have helped scientists lead a bra revolution

The University of Portsmouth’s pioneering Research Group in Breast Health is celebrating 10 years since it opened the world’s first sports bra test facility.

In that time, researchers have tested over 700 sports bras and their performance on over 8,000 women - which means they have monitored over one million breast bounces!

The cross-disciplinary team, including psychologists, physiologists and clinicians, has worked with global sporting apparel companies, elite athletes including the England women’s football team, bra manufacturers, the NHS and the military.

Their mission is to protect breast health, reduce or eliminate pain and enable all women to exercise in comfort.

The research group was founded by Professor Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, Professor of Biomechanics, who was searching for a solution to her own breast pain. She learned that more than half of women suffer from this, with consequences for health and wellbeing.

This revelation led to the formation of the Research Group in Breast Health in 2005. Professor Scurr and her team analyse the ways different breasts move during sport and exercise, then calculate the best bra support. From this work, the team has developed the world’s largest database on sports bra performance, which is used to inform bra development from small start-ups to some of the biggest companies in the world.  

Breast biomechanics – how the breast moves, how much stretch or strain there is on the tissues of the breast, and what effect the mass of the breast hanging from the shoulder is having on the rest of the body – has been one of the fundamental research questions. The breast’s limited anatomical support means that without support it can move up to 15 centimetres during an exercise like running, causing discomfort, pain and even damage to delicate tissue.

Professor Wakefield-Scurr, who is known as the “Bra Professor”, said: “Using our knowledge, we have built a range of services to educate and advise athletes on breasts and bras to enable them to protect their breast health, potentially improve their performance and reduce the negative side effects of not wearing appropriate breast support in sport.

“I would like to give a massive thank you to all the women who have volunteered their breasts to progress science and improve breast support products. Beyond the amazing data we have offered to our clients, our testing lab has offered students the opportunity to undertake their projects with us, to see real-life applications of science.”

One of the most uplifting moments in British sport in recent years was the Lionesses’ win over Germany to become Euro 2022 champions. The final was sealed by an extra-time goal from Chloe Kelly, who immediately crowned her stardom by whipping off her shirt and showing to the world her sports bra, which had been prescribed and fitted by the Portsmouth team.

Ahead of the tournament, Professor Wakefield-Scurr and her team gave a breast and bra educational workshop and undertook surveys with the England squad. The aim was to assess breast and bra habits, issues and preferences to individually prescribe appropriate sports bras to each player.

Before the research project with the Football Association, the Research Group had already worked with the English Institute of Sport (EIS) and the British Olympic Association, prescribing custom bras for female athletes in the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Their work with female British athletes before the Tokyo Olympics found 17 per cent of female athletes reported breast movement or bra fit, negatively affected their performance. Over 50 per cent experienced breast pain and three-quarters had never had a sports bra professionally fitted. 

Consequently, bespoke bras were designed specifically to improve the performance of women competing in rowing, shooting and hockey. 

In February 2022, the group’s research underpinned the launch by Adidas of 43 new styles of sports bra, in 72 sizes, to reflect women’s physical diversity. The choice might sound overwhelming, but the group’s quick guide to bra selection today provides an invaluable changing room guide.

Brogan Jones, Head of the Bra Testing Unit, said: “This is how science can help the consumer – products backed by science can give them confidence in what they are purchasing. We want to help consumers make the right choice when choosing a sports bra, so look out for our bra testing stamp on products.”

The group’s work now extends to women in the military, and schoolgirls are also in the sightlines of breast health initiatives. With a website – treasureyourchest.org – the group aims to remove the stigma around breast health and comfort, and encourage more girls to participate in sport.

Professor Scurr added: “Our research shows that breasts are a barrier to exercise for 46 per cent of schoolgirls and we want to break down this barrier to exercise.

“Breast development can be a positive milestone in the development of the female body, but it can also be an embarrassing and confusing time. Girls can go through periods of self-consciousness, negative body image and low self-esteem as they navigate these changes.

“By empowering girls with knowledge and awareness, we believe that girls' body confidence, health and participation in physical activity can be significantly improved."