Lesser Known Benefits to Wearing a Sports Bra & Why They’re Essential with Bras for Girls
Understanding your breasts is essential to women’s health. From knowing risk factors associated with breast cancer, to understanding the various sources of breast pain, the conversations are vast and deserve our attention!
One area that often gets overlooked as it relates to breast health is the sports bra. For women and girls, wearing a well-fitting sports bra is crucial for both performance and comfort. In our latest blog, we sat down with Sarah Lesko of the nonprofit Bras For Girls to discuss all things sports bras!
Related: Support Know Your Lemons for Early Detection
IDA: So what’s the story behind Bras for Girls? How did it come to be?
- 46% of girls reported their breasts affected their sports and exercise participation.
- More than 50% of girls did not wear a sports bra with exercise.
- 87% of girls wanted to know more about breast development.
- 73% of girls reported at least one breast-specific concern in relation to sports and exercise.
At the time, Oiselle happened to have a surplus of sports bras. Dr. Sarah Lesko led the creation of the Bras for Girls program. In the first year the program received requests for more than 68,000 bras. As requests for bras multiplied, it became apparent that our mission was greater than one company. In 2021, Bras for Girls became its own 501c3 non-profit, and has since grown 200% each year in the number of girls reached. Bras for Girls now partners with >25 brands that support our mission.
IDA: Why is the sports bra considered an essential piece of gear?
SL: A sports bra is a bra designed specifically to support breasts during exercise. As bodies change during puberty, the biomechanics of unsupported breast tissue can lead to pain, discomfort, or embarrassment with exercise, which can translate to a decreased desire for physical movement– causing some girls to quit sports. Lack of a sports bra should never be the reason a girl stops doing sports.
IDA: What are some obvious or lesser known benefits to wearing a sports bra?
SL:
- More physical comfort with exercise
- Improved stride length with running
- A feeling of empowerment
- Ability to control what other people see about your body
- Increased confidence with exercise
IDA: How many bras have you distributed in total?
SL: More than 110,000 so far!
IDA: That's amazing! How are the bras distributed exactly?
IDA: What is a fact or statistic about bras or breasts that shocked you when you first heard it?
IDA: What do you think is one of the biggest misconceptions the public has about sports bras, breast health, or simply women’s (and girls’) sports?
SL:
- That girls in the US have access to all the sports bras they need
- That girls only need one sports bra
- That there is one best sports bra that works for every person and every sport
- That sports bras should be uncomfortable and restrictive
- That you need to play a sport to wear a sports bra!
IDA: Have you ever received opposition from naysayers to your work or do you find most people to be in support of the mission once they learn more?
IDA: If you could wave a magic wand, what would you hope Bras for Girls will achieve in 5 years?
IDA: How can people get involved if they’d like to help or support?
SL: We are so fortunate to have an active and generous volunteer and donor community. Our website, volunteer signup page, newsletter list, and donation page are great places to start. We hope to see you at a Bras for Girls event!
Check out their work brasforgirls.org!
Want to support early detection work with Know Your Lemons? Shop the Limited Edition Breast Self Pack
From now through the end of February 2025, IDA is donating $10 for every pair sold from the Limited Edition Breast Self Pack to Know Your Lemons®. The limited edition pack features the IDA Rise Elite FG/AG cleats and the IDA Rise Turf shoes. Available exclusively in the US at this time.
Let’s expand the conversations around breast health, better understand our bodies, and support early detection!