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source_url: "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40503646/?utm_source=openai"
title: "Does level of breast support differentially affect exertional symptoms and respiratory system responses in large- and small-breasted women during treadmill exercise? - PubMed"
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> **Original source:** https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40503646/?utm_source=openai

Randomized Controlled Trial

. 2025 Jan 1:50:1-12.

doi: 10.1139/apnm-2025-0043.

Affiliations

-   PMID: **40503646**
-   DOI: [10.1139/apnm-2025-0043](https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2025-0043)

Randomized Controlled Trial

## Does level of breast support differentially affect exertional symptoms and respiratory system responses in large- and small-breasted women during treadmill exercise?

Camilla R Illidi et al. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2025.

## Abstract

We assessed how different levels of breast support affected exertional symptoms and respiratory responses in small- and large-breasted females during treadmill exercise. Twenty recreationally-active females (mean ± SD age: 22 ± 2 years) were divided into small (SBV: 322±77 mL) and large breast volume (LBV: 580±88 mL; _p_ < 0.001, _g_ = 2.98) groups. Participants completed three 5 min bouts of treadmill exercise at 30%, 60%, and 90% of individual peak power output (PPO)-corresponding to walking, low-intensity running, and high-intensity running-wearing either a high-support or low-support sports bra (randomized). Measurements included cardiorespiratory variables, operating lung volumes, inspiratory muscle electromyographic, respiratory muscle pressures, breast acceleration, and exertional symptoms (breathlessness, chest tightness due to bra). High- versus low-support sports bras reduced mean breast acceleration (_p <_ 0.001, η p 2 \=0.55), but evoked higher ratings of chest tightness (_p =_ 0.040, η p 2 \=0.16) in LBV participants at low- and high-intensity running (_g_ = 1.09 and _g_ = 0.99, respectively). Although breathlessness was not significantly different by bra or breast volume (all _p_ > 0.05), LBV participants consistently reported breathlessness intensity and unpleasantness ≥ 1 Borg unit (BU) higher than SBV participants during low- and high-intensity running (breathlessness intensity: ∼5 vs. ∼3 BU at 60% PPO; ∼9 vs. ∼7 BU at 90% PPO; breathlessness unpleasantness: ∼4 vs. ∼2 BU at 60% PPO, ∼8 vs. ∼6 BU at 90% PPO). There were no differences in cardiorespiratory variables, inspiratory muscle activity, operating lung volumes between breast volume groups or sports bras (all _p_ > 0.05). We emphasize the importance of addressing subjective discomfort, including chest tightness and breathlessness, when developing effective breast support for weight-bearing exercise, especially for larger-breasted individuals.

**Keywords:** breathlessness; female anthropometry; female exercise physiology; respiratory mechanics; sports bra; treadmill exercise.

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## Conflict of interest statement

CI was supported by an Accelerate postdoctoral fellowship from the Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex System (MITACS, award #IT28775) with partner organization Lululemon athletica inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, CA. DJ holds a Canada Research Chair, Tier II, in Clinical Exercise & Respiratory Physiology from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

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