There are a number of consequences, physical health and otherwise, that can impact a woman’s well-being as a result of wearing an ill fitting bra. Many women may tend to disregard this aspect of the bra, which results in unsafe consequences which could be temporary or permanent. It has been revealed in various studies that a large number of women select the wrong size bra and many of these complain about it (Tantawy et al, 2021).
Physical Consequences
The very first problem when people put on an ill-fitted bra is pain. For instance, wearing a bra, which is small or too tight, causes pressure distortion and skin redness. This in the short term may not be a problem: skin may become discolored over frequent use of such bra and later skin erosion and excoriations can develop on the breast tissue. Meanwhile, too large bra cup may not stay in place and provide sufficient support, allowing the breast to move too much and thus creating discomfort and pain in the breast tissue and near it. White and Scurr (2019) ascertains that mastalgia occurs due to inadequate support of the breast during movements of the upper body that involves the breast, due to excessive breast movements, which affect approximately 50% of women once or within their lifetime. The study also pointed out that wearing well-fitting bras significantly reduces breast pain while engaging in vigorous activities.
Aside from breast pain, wearing a wrong-size bra can also result in back pain, neck pain and shoulder pain especially for women who have fuller busts. An unsupported bust also adds tension on the upper body muscles and ligaments stirring up tension and pain. As per the study devised by Brown, Burnett and Scurr (2020), women who tend to wear poor bras are more at risk in developing musculoskeletal problems such as in the upper back and shoulders. This is considerably more, particularly amongst women with larger busts in which when they wear a bra that fits poorly, they are likely to feel discomfort and pain.
Postural Deficiencies
Wearing an unfitted bra will also cause individual posture problems, which is a huge drawback. Although there are many types of bras in the market, their main function is not just brief or long term support to the bosom tissues but also to ensure that adequate up body posture is maintained. With an ill fitted bra, one is bound to slouch leading to undue strain on the back which centers on the spinal column leading to poor spine alignment. In their studies, McGhee and Steele (2020) found out that women with large busts are more likely to develop posture deviation as a result of inappropriate bra support. These postural deviations if not corrected can lead to persistent back ache and other axial health issues over time.
No adequate bra support has the tendency to make the posture-related problems more severe during physical activities, including running or other forms of working out. In the absence of adequate support, breast displacement becomes pronounced, and women may change how they stand so that they do not feel any discomfort which results in a misaligned spine and shoulders (White & Scurr, 2019). If this active posture is not released over many repetitions, it may have long-term effects of spinal and postural abnormalities.
Long Term Health Impact
Wearing a poorly fitted bra for an extended period can result in more serious issues other than pain or complications related to physical body postures. Among the most debilitating outcomes that could occur is the occurrence of the thoracic ou let syndrome (TOS), a condition that happens when blood vessels or nerves within the space under the clavicle and above the first rib get pinched. Such conditions lead to shoulder and neck pains, tingling in the fingers and a loss of strength while gripping. Studies show that using incorrect sized bras, especially ones with underwires or tight bands, can inflame the chest and can lead to the TOS (Brown et al., 2020).
Furthermore, there are claims that an ill-fitted bra may provoke breast ptosis. Aging and factors like pregnancy and weight changes do in some way, affect breast sagging, and the wearing of a non-adequately supportive bra may quicken it. McGhee et al. (2020) reported that women who went without properly fitted bras were likely to suffer increased breast symptoms over time in respect to sagging compared to women who wore supportive bras.
Psychological and Emotional Impact
Notably, the absence of appropriate fit for the bra does not only present physical discomfort to women, but there are deep psychological and emotional effects on them. C-apes and rest on the base of the bra, the body gets nervous about how the chest looks, causing complication and displeasure about one’s appearance. These people need to wear bras that do not fit properly, which frustrates them on countless occasions in a day and disturbs their mood and productivity levels. It has been established that women who wear ill-fitting bras are more likely to have negative body image than women who wear properly fitted bras.
Wearing poorly fitted bras can also limit a woman’s capability to partake in activities like exercises or sports. Wearing a bad bra can make women reluctant to exercise and take part in activities affected by physical exertion and such can adversely affect their health and wellness overall. White and Scurr (2019) note that women engaging in physical activities while wearing properly fitted sport bras experience lower levels of discomfort that decreases their chances of taking regular physical activities. The present findings as well reaffirmed the necessity to use a well-fitted bra in addition to preventing discomfort but encouraging a physically active lifestyle.
Bra Fitting Education and Awareness
Even though fitting a bra improperly comes with adverse effects, women today do not seem concerned about the bra size suitable for them. Studies estimate that 80 percent of women wear wrong bra sizes as a result of too many factors, some of which involve deficiencies in professional fitting services (Tantawy et al., 2021). Many women still wear high bra cups which are either too big bra cups too small or bra cups lacking support for health and well-being for the simple reason that they do not appreciate the health ramifications that this entails.
To solve this problem, a proper-fitting bra to women at all times, but most especially during times of body transformation such as pregnancy, weight loss or menopause is highly encouraged. McGhee and Steele (2020) suggest that all women, regardless of their physiological shape or age, should undergo a “3D anatomical fitting”, as such an annual bra measure can help, as there are no expensive risks, lessen the risk that women wear bras of the wrong size and lack proper ventilation.
Conclusion
The health consequences following from the use of an ill-fitted bra are considerably more serious than the discomfort that the wear and tear of the bra may cause. There are both short-term and long-term consequences for the woman’s quality of life as related to practical bra wearing. These include breast pain, musculoskeletal pain, problems associated with posture, embarrassment or stress. All bra fittings must, after reviewing the breast presentation, match the bra cups heads with the sore regions. In order to prevent these problems, it is best for patients to seek undergarments that address these issues in time and in the right context. Education and bra fittings play an important role in the fact that women will be able to wear any bra they want, and at the same time avoid adverse effects of wearing an unfitted bra.
