Lung Volumes and Flows during Jogging with Sports Bras

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Sports brassiere (bras) has been demonstrated to be more efficient and safe for excess breast motion than other bras. However, only 13% of adolescent females and 41% of women put on sports bra during physical activity. Previous evidences demonstrated that highly elastic chest straps from bras press around thoracic cage and shoulder which demonstrated by rapid and shallow breathing. PURPOSE: To investigate changes of respiratory function at rest and during exercise at 3 randomised jogging trials with no bra (NB), casual bra (CB) and sports bra (SB), 15 healthy young females, with B and C cup size, voluntarily participated in the study. METHODS: Resting lung volumes, capacities and flows included tidal volume (VT), inspiratory capacity (IC), vital capacity (VC), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), respiratory rate (RR), minute ventilation (V†E); and dynamic lung functions included force expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1.0), force vital capacity (FVC), %FEV1.0, maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were tested before, immediately after putting on different bras and during exercise. Jogging was conducted on a motor-driven treadmill at constant speed of 4 mph up to 80% of age-predicted maximal heart rate (MHR). Data were compared at rest, 60, 70 and 80% MHR. RESULTS: Putting on sports bra immediately decreased FEV1.0, FVC and MVV significantly (p<0.05) when compared with pre-bras condition. Respiratory functions during exercise showed no significant differences of between bras conditions at 60, 70 and 80%MHR. CONCLUSION: Putting on sports bras abruptly reduced dynamic but not on static respiratory functions. These reductions are temporary since it disappeared as exercise was started. The present studies indicated that sports bra does not limit respiratory functions during exercise and may be appropriate for females with active lifestyle.