What’s The Association Between Bras And Back Pain?

Research into the link between back pain and bras does exist. However, it has primarily been in the form of large polls, discussions, and anectdotal evidence rather than any level 1 studies. The common thread in the research is that a poor fitting bra can result in lots of pain for women. Besides undergoing a breast reduction as an initial treatment, receiving an "expert" bra fitting can alleviate the pain.

An online poll was conducted in 2006 by Harris Interactive for the nonprofit North American Spine Society and the bra company Maidenform. Over 1300 females answered the poll. Fifty-nine percent of the women said their bra caused them to have back, shoulder, or neck pain. The largest problem reported by these women consisted of the bra straps, seconded by the bra's band around the rib cage, the supportive underwire that is constructed into many bras, and the bra's cup size. Not every woman was unhappy with their bras. Thirty nine percent of the group stated their bras never hurt their shoulders, neck, or back. The two percent remaining said they do not wear bras.

Women who are dealing with back pain from their bras are typically wearing the wrong size.

Many females who undergo plastic surgery to alleviate back pain could have an equivalent outcome by wearing bras that fit better. Over 120,000 breast reduction surgeries were performed in 2009, a 137% increase over 1997. These bras are usually not fashionable and tend to be expensive. It may be necessary to enlist the services of a custom bra maker. However, it is a miniscule price to pay to avoid surgery complications. There are psychological considerations for surgery as well, so it's not a hard and fast rule it can or should always be avoided. At least seeking the services of a pain management doctor should be considered. Also, treatment from a chiropractor may alleviate resulting pain.

Wearing the wrong size bra can result in the weight of the breasts being carried by the shoulders rather than the chest and contribute to mid or low back pain. Often times women underestimate the width of their back, while overstating their cup size. This means the breasts do not receive proper support and can result in pain in the chest, neck, and shoulders.