For exercising, many people make the mistake of wearing an everyday bra instead of supportive sports bra. Sports bras protect your Cooper’s ligaments, which are the connective tissues responsible for maintaining your breasts’ lift and shape over time. Ranging from low to high impact, sports bras are available in two basic styles: encapsulation and compression.
Encapsulation
Encapsulation style sports bras use underwire to separate the breasts, encapsulating them in the cup, so each breast receives an individualized level of control and support. Furthermore, because the bra completely separates the two breasts, you reduce the risk of rashes or chafing between them. Similar to regular underwire bras, the encapsulation sports bras have both foam and non-foam cup styles and often boast a superior size range. Not to mention, most are comfortable enough to wear as an everyday bra, especially for anyone looking for a lot of control and support. They can be perfect for active jobs too. Finally, the underwire and cup shape combine to lessen, if not eliminate, the trademark sports bra uniboob that compression styles give.
Compression sports bras, on the other hand, work by pressing breast tissue firmly against your chest and holding it in place as you move. Most of these do not contain underwire, which can feel more comfortable during intense workouts, and some people find they have better hold during exercise.
Regardless of which style best suits your needs, sports bras have other important features that distinguish them from everyday bras, such as padded straps for comfortable weight dispersal and moisture-wicking fabric to prevent chafing. It’s also important to assess what activities you perform as well as what bra size you wear and then purchase the appropriate impact level. Energetic activities like tennis or running require a high-impact sports bra, especially if you are fuller-busted, while milder activities like yoga or walking, do not require as much control and support (although you can certainly still use a high-impact sports bra for them too).