If you’re like most women, you rip that bra off the moment you walk in your door. Straps falling off, underwires digging in, shoulder pain, back pain, breast pain—you know your bra is there throughout the day, and not in a good way.

Most women have learned to accept that bras are uncomfortable. But an uncomfortable bra not a necessary evil. You just need to know how to find the right bra for you.

Bra discomfort and pain often come from improper sizing and style. Bra pain can also come from changes in your body, including pregnancy and other motherhood stages.

Change your bra, eliminate bra pain.

Bra pain and discomfort are not normal. But they can make your life far more difficult. You could make your life a lot easier by understanding how to eliminate pain and discomfort from a bad bra. 

Chronic pain puts you in a bad mood, and bad bras cause chronic pain. 

The wrong bra will add to your stress. A painful bra can make you more irritable, and have a negative impact on your work and relationships. 

Bad bras also create medical issues. So many women suffer with chronic neck and shoulder issues that physicians often suggest better fitting bras.

Pain and numbness across the back of your neck and shoulders is never okay. Neither is a sense of burning pain behind your chest strap. Pain is not normal. Pain needs to be addressed.

Are you wearing the wrong bra size?

A 2008 study found that 80% of women were wearing the wrong size bra. Unless you are in the lucky 20%, you probably are wearing the wrong bra size. 

Bra pain and discomfort are clues that will help you find a better fitting bra.

To find the perfect bra fit, you need to be aware of the signs that your bra is bad for you. 

1. Your straps keep falling off your shoulders. If a bra fits correctly, you should only be able to pull the straps about a half-inch to one inch above your shoulder
2. You have spillover at the top, sides, or bottoms of your cups. Your whole breast should fit comfortably in each cup
3. Your chest band rides up your back. Your bra should be snug so that it hugs your torso and rests parallel to the floor
4. You have indents across your shoulders from your bra straps. Your bra isn’t supportive enough, and your straps are taking up the slack and digging into your shoulders
5. Your cups are wrinkly or baggy. Your cup is too big
6. You are using the last hook of your bra strap. You should purchase a bra with the chest band on the middle hook to allow for stretching over time
7. The underwire is digging into your breast. You need a larger cup size
8. The center of your chest band lifts away from your chest. The center gore (the part of the bra in-between the cups) should rest against your body without gapping
9. You have back fat. It’s not back fat; it means your band is too tight or improperly fit and it’s digging into your skin
10. You have different sized breasts. Get a fitting for the correct style of bra and always fit the larger breast. If there’s an extreme difference, a good fitter can provide bra inserts to backfill for the smaller breast
11. You have neck, back, or shoulder pain. Your body is talking to you. You need to listen. You may not have the right fitting bra

Self-care includes finding the right bra.

Self-care means adding good things to your life and eliminating things that cause distress. Adding bra sizing to your self-care list will help you feel less pain and more comfort, everyday.

Figure out your ideal bra size before you shop.

Try this online bra fit calculator to figure out your best bra size.

Get a professional bra fitting.

If you are local to the Santa Cruz area, we recommend bra fitting consultant, Lisa Cecchettini at Bridal Veil Fashions. Lisa is certified to help with post-surgical bra fitting for mastectomy and reductions.

Experiencing neck, back, or shoulder pain?

Our Aptos chiropractors can help. We can even help you figure out if a bad bra is your problem. Book your appointment online.