Myth No.7 - I can wear a regular bra when exercising

It's best not to. When you run, your breasts can move up to 8 inches if not supported properly! Breast bounce during exercise can stretch supportive ligaments, causing your breasts to sag and possibly leading to back pain and discomfort. A good sports bra is engineered to support you much better than a regular bra, but most importantly it will give you the comfort and confidence to push harder for longer. With the range of sports bras available in D-K cup sizes nowadays, there are no more excuses!

What's the best way to avoid breast pain when exercising?

Select a sports bra based upon the strength of the bra and the seamed support that distributes the pressure and weight of your breasts.  As with many products you get what you pay for; however if you are participating in low-impact activities, you can achieve a good result for lower cost as the bra does not need to be as structured. If you are a D cup or above and participate in high impact activities, then you will benefit from wearing a high quality, well-structured sports bra.

How to choose the right sports bra?

Finding the right sports bra can be challenging in bigger cup sizes. It's important to find the most suitable one for your body shape. Some bra manufacturers have endless marketing dollars to convey how effective their sports bras are; but in our experience, just like any other bra, a sports bra can work very differently with different bodies¦you be the judge!

Our tips for finding the right sports bra fit

• With each sports bra you try do the bounce test by jumping up and down, swing your arms and move around. If a bra pokes, constricts your breathing, or bulges, it's not right for you.
• It should fit on the first hook; as it loses elasticity over time, you'll need room to tighten it.
• Although a sports bra alone should provide enough support, research shows that a crop top over the top can add another 15% more support.
• The most supportive sports bras are usually full in the cup and not pretty, but in the long term they will reduce breast sag. With a sports bra choose support, not the look.
• Don't buy it if it's uncomfortable, because the comfort level will remain the same when you get home.

Ban the bounce (almost)

A good sports bra will minimise bounce, however you can't expect it to completely stop the bounce. To do this, your sports bra would need to be so tight it completely compresses your bust against your chest wall (which would result in restricted breathing). You should feel comfortable and supported. Slight movement of breasts is helpful, because it aids the lymph flow.

It's important to find the most suitable sports bra for your body shape. There is an assortment of wired, wirefree, encapsulation and compression sports bras, many are well designed for the larger cup. There are often enticing features such as crossbacks and ipod holders, however there is nothing more necessary than comfort and support. Some of our favourite sports bras for the fuller bust are:If you're in Melbourne or Sydney, we invite you to visit a Brava store for a bra fitting with our professional team. Our Hampton and Melbourne CBD stores have a treadmill in-store to help you find the perfect bra for your impact level.