An investigation by Dr. Joanna Scurr of Portsmouth University in England has revealed that more than half of women suffer breast pain during exercise.

Dr. Scurr analyzed the breast movements of 70 women with cup sizes ranging from A to JJ. Her findings showed that even during gentle exercise, most of the women’s breasts moved far more than ordinary bras are designed to cope with.

Bras are designed to prevent up and down movement but, according to the study, they also move from side to side and in and out during exercise. Consequently, between 45 and 60 percent of women experience actual pain, and many avoid exercise completely.

Dr. Scurr recommends sports bras whatever the cup size and however vigorous the exercise. However, for A to G cup women sports bras only reduced movement by just over 50 percent.

These findings show the need for manufacturers to design bras which reduce breast movement more effectively than even modern sports bras, said Dr. Scurr.

The best support is given by “an encapsulation bra” with separate molded cups, not the current compression bras which flatten breasts against the chest wall.