THE BRA
OMG the dreaded bra. I have so much to say on this issue. Why has society said we can’t have our boobs just floating around in a t-shirt? Society sucks that it has the ability to judge and dictate to us what is acceptable and what isn’t. How dare society judge us. Shouldn’t our behavior and character be what we are judged by? I bet Mother Teresa never wore a bra and her legacy speaks for itself. She even said “If you judge people, you have no time to love them”.
With all that being said, I do understand that there are women out there who suffer greatly without the use of a bra. Larger-breasted women need these devices to help them through everyday life and reduce pain and discomfort in their bodies. For these women, the struggle is real. There are also cases where women have had a mastectomy and need the bra to even things up and feel like a normal woman.
Finding a bra that fits, that is comfortable, that is supportive and will last longer than the special it was bought on can be a real battle. We are always in a rush, and buying a bra is one of those things we just want to get over and done with quickly.
I don’t know why, but if you’re anything like me, once you do finally decide to buy one, you probably won’t walk into a bra shop for another 5 to 10 years. If we are going to keep them until they fall apart, we should really take the time and make the effort to get them fitted properly and make sure that they have all the features that suit our bodies and our lifestyles.
As a massage therapist, I do see a lot of people who suffer from sore backs, necks, and shoulders for a lot of reasons. As my clientele base is generally over 40, I am seeing an increasing number of women who are presenting with these symptoms, and I am noticing that they also have bra strap syndrome.
What is Bra Strap Syndrome
Yes, there is such a thing. The most obvious clue is the deep depressions on either side of the top of the shoulders. These grooves are caused by wearing a bra with straps that are too narrow and too tight. They cut into the underlying soft tissues, put excess pressure on the brachial plexus nerve bundle and are more prevalent in women with poor posture
Our work environment often makes it very difficult to correct our posture and the office workers and drivers seem to be the most common careers for poor posture. The job itself creates strain through the back, neck and shoulders due to the time spent in certain positions, ergonomics and repetitive nature.
Add in a poorly fitted bra and the extra pressure on the muscles at the top of the shoulders that attach to the neck, and the pain and discomfort escalates to what can be unbearable.
Symptoms of Bra Strap Syndrome
That burning feeling, fatigue, pain, headaches/migraines, an increase in poor posture, brain fog or lack of concentration, tingles in shoulders down the arms to the fingers, loss of mobility and range of motion, reduction of strength.
These can all be symptoms of bra strap syndrome. When pressure is consistently held on the muscle fibers and nerves for long periods it can cause irreversible damage.
A tight bra strap restricts the blood supply to the muscle’s fibers, and underlying tissues and also adds pressure to the nerves, which could cause them damage. When muscle fibers don’t have sufficient blood supply, they can then die, resulting in permanent damage and ongoing symptoms.
That is an extreme worst-case scenario. Oh, and do not forget that underwires can cause damage as well. If underwires are faulty or ill-fitting, they can cause cysts and muscle spasms, and if the bra is too tight, the underwire can reduce the movement of lymph fluid (our drainage system).
What can we do to fix Bra Strap Syndrome
In most cases though, we can take action to rectify any damage that has been caused. We have a few options available to us.
- As we must wear a bra, the first thing we should do is to get one properly fitted when we purchase one. If you are too shy to get one fitted and you prefer to shop for one yourself, try to get one with wider straps so any pressure can be more widely distributed.
- There are also some nifty little devices you can buy to place your bra strap in that distributes the weight and pressure across the top of your shoulder, reducing the effects of a thin strap.
- Be sure that the underwires are not digging in or aggravating the skin or ribs. It has been recorded that there have been cases of cancer that have been attributed to the underwire constantly causing irritation in the same place for many years. Maybe try a wireless bra and see if it is comfortable and gives the support you need.
- Go braless as often as you can. Give those girls some freedom. It has been scientifically proven that going braless actually increases the muscle tissue, collagen, in the muscle fibers and prevents sagging. Imagine you have a sore arm. You have that arm in a sling for a month and don’t use it. After the month is up, you remove the sling and try to do your normal duties, but you have discovered that the muscles have deteriorated due to lack of use. Our boobs are the same. We hold them in a sling all day, every day, and then wonder why they get saggy. Muscle deterioration.
Braless is healthy for your boobs.
Massage helps to restore blood flow back to the areas that have been depleted, increase lymphatic fluid movement and help to decrease the symptoms from bra strap syndrome. So, if we must wear a bra, (and unfortunately, we must) all we can do, is to do the best we can by our body. Comfort over aesthetics.
Book a fitting or burn the bra. And don’t forget to book a massage. Either way, stay perky.
