Exploring Unseen Realities: The Impact of Brassiere on Breast Discomfort - A Cross-sectional Analytical Investigation

Abstract

Background: Women typically begin wearing bras at the age of 8 to 11. There are around 23 different styles of bras worldwide. According to research by McGhee and Steele (2010), 70% of women wear bras that are either the wrong size or poorly fitted. Wearing a poorly fitting bra can cause breast pain because the bra's components can dig into the breast tissue. This is because breasts come in a wide range of sizes and volumes, and one bra design may not be suitable for all. It has also been found that as the level of support provided by a bra increases, the intensity of breast pain decreases. This is because a well-fitting bra reduces the range of motion, velocity, and acceleration of the breast tissue. This highlights the necessity to examine the suitability of bras on a case-by-case basis. Existing literature often advises that wearing a properly fitting and supportive bra can alleviate symptoms of breast soreness.

Methodology: Non-experimental design, was conducted in close proximity of Chengalpattu in the year 2022. Participants were selected based on specific criteria for inclusion and exclusion.  The participants' brassiere sizes were observed and measured using Triumph criteria. Subsequently, a statistical analysis was conducted to determine the disparity between the bra size that was being worn and the true bra size.

Outcome Measure: Brassiere size worn and Triumph Guidelines

Result &Conclusion: This study determines that there is a notable disparity in bra size among participants who reported experiencing discomfort of moderate and severe intensity.