As the name suggests, sports bra is special lingerie for women who indulge in sports. It is designed keeping in mind the comfort of sportswomen. Sports bras provide firm support to the breasts. They are particularly worn during vigorous exercise, due to which the breasts may move uncomfortably. While exercising, the movement of the breast is bound to cause discomfort and embarrassment, which is why sports bra have become an integral part of sportswomen. These bras are firmer than the regular bras and control unnecessary movement.
Sports bras also reduce the risk of damage to the ligaments of the chest during high impact exercises, such as jogging. This provides the answer to the question of what is sports bra. Moving further, in appearance, a sports bra resembles a tank top, with half bottom cut off. The origin of sports bra dates back to 1977. It was presented for the first time by Hinda Miller and Lisa Landahl, who cut up a pair of jockstraps and sewed them together into a bra. Later, it was marketed as the Jogbra. The variations to a sports bra include use of gel and water pads, silver fibers and air bags.
The stitch-less sports bra, which was molded, compressed and shaped, was made by Wacoal. Moreover, there are a number of bras that are knitted in circular patterns, providing varying stretch and support. A sports bra is mainly made of Lycra, which is a stretchable absorbent fabric, allowing sweat to stay away from the skin, thereby reducing irritation. Sports bras are classified into either encapsulation brassieres, with molded cups, or compression brassieres that restrict movement, by flattening the breasts. The encapsulation brassiere is considered ideal for reducing discomfort, while the latter is used for modesty.
