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Brassiere Badly fitting bra often causes health problems
Bras (bras) are worn in this country by a majority of women. For many women, however, the bra sits badly and they risk significant health problems. In a current research project, the best fit of the brassiere is now to be determined, in order to avoid unnecessary health risks by wearing the underwear.
The research project of the Industrial Community Research (IGF), which is coordinated by the Research Council of Textiles e.V. (FKT), is dedicated specifically to the optimal bra fit. Possible health impairments by wearing a bra should be prevented in the future. The research project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) with public funds, according to the communication of the AiF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen "Otto von Guericke" e.V.).
A poorly fitting bra can lead to tension, headaches and pressure damage to the connective tissue. (Image: abelena / fotolia.com) Deformations of the connective tissue
Worldwide, 30 percent of women wear a bra and in Germany it is even around 90 percent, reports the AiF. However, every second bra does not fit correctly, which could have permanent negative health consequences for the wearer. In particular, incorrect settings or uncomfortable fits of bra straps are often the cause of ill-fitting brassiere. For example, narrow carriers in conjunction with large cups are often a trigger for deformities of the connective tissue. In addition, the bra straps usually run in the shoulder and neck area, where many muscles and nerves are. Wrong-fitting bra straps are often the cause of permanent pressure sores and deep furrows in these sensitive areas, which affect the underlying tissue, reports the AiF.
Tension and headache typical consequences
The pressure of the poorly fitting bra straps on the sensitive neck and shoulder areas can cause permanent tension in the back, neck, arm or shoulder area and increased headaches, the experts justify their current research project. The research project should find out how to improve BH carrier systems. "We asked ourselves: How can you change the pressure of the bra straps on the shoulder area, so that the well-known symptoms no longer occur?" Explains project leader Angela Mahr-Erhardt from the Hohenstein Institute for Textile Innovation.
Texture of bra straps with influence on the pressure distribution
So far, the interplay of bra construction, chest volume and the resulting pressure in the shoulder area, according to the project manager has not been explored. The current research project therefore devotes exactly this topic complex. "For example, we are investigating how bra straps need to be designed so that the pressure can build up uniformly over the entire width of the straps," explains Martin Harnisch, an expert in pressure measurements and skin sensor technology who is also involved in the research project. In addition, the subjective feeling that a wearer triggers when in contact with the skin is of interest. This is tried by special measurements of the skin sensory properties to objectively evaluate.
Development of new measuring methods required
So far, the skin-sensory properties of bra straps could be determined according to the expert only in complex wear tests. In the current project, the use of a measuring torso in combination with high-resolution printing foils will be planned for the first time. In order to analyze the interplay of BH construction, chest volume and pressure in the shoulder area, the development of new measurement methods is essential. After all, which force the chest exerts on the bra straps and whether the resulting pressure builds up evenly across the width of the straps remains largely unclear. (Fp)