Why A Too Tight Sports Bra May Affect Your Breathing and Energy

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When shopping for a sports bra, many athletes believe that the tighter and more snug, the better. But new research suggests a too-tight bra can affect your breathing and impede running performance.

The study, which was funded by athletic apparel brand Lululemon and conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia, tracked the breathing and lung function of nine elite runners as they ran on a treadmill wearing a custom sports bra with a lower band that could be adjusted to tight, loose or a standard size the runner chose.

The research showed that a too-tight sports bra affected the women’s breathing, causing them to take more shallow breaths and a few extra breaths per minute. Additionally, when the band was loosened, the runners consumed less oxygen at a given speed…