Tackle breast pain while exercising
A lowdown on what you should know and do about pain in breasts while exercising
Ladies, have you ever felt severe pain in your breasts while sweating it out at the gym? If yes, worry not, for it's a fairly common complaint. However, many women who face the problem may find it too embarrassing to talk about it and seek help. Now that, say experts, is not a good idea. Here's why:
Why does it happen?
Hormonal changes prior to periods may cause water retention and bloating. In fact, many women find that their bras have become tighter during this time. While exercising, the movement of arms and chest muscles exacerbate this discomfort, which can border on pain, explains gynaecologist Dr Firuza R Parikh.
"Usually, the pain is not emanating from the breast tissues. What hurts are the pectoral muscles under the breast. They stretch during exercise, particularly the upper body exercise, to mimic breast pain. A slightly loose garment around the bust will help prevent the tightness and thus relieve the pain," says Dr Parikh.
What should you do?
"Firstly, you should identify the particular exercise that triggers it. It need not necessarily be chest exercises; it could even be skipping or running. The problem generally occurs when you wear the wrong bra size. If the pain persists, consult a doctor," advises pilates expert Namrata Purohit.
How to avoid it
Purohit shares the following tips on how to avoid pain in your breasts:
- Check your bra size. Ensure your bra is right for you and the form of exercise you are doing. Wear the right bra not only during workouts but even otherwise.
- If the reason is something else, medical tests will help you identify it. In such cases, lowering the intensity of your workout helps.
- Following a healthy diet can also reduce or help prevent pain.
Tips to buy the right sports bra
If your sports bra has separate cups, your breasts should snugly fit inside them and not spill out. The lower edge of the bra (the area between the cups) should lie flatly against the chest, not away from it. The straps should fit comfortably while providing enough support.
They should neither dig into the skin nor slide while you move. If you're buying underwired bras, make sure the underwire is in tandem with the natural crease of the breast instead of digging into it or being on top of it
.
Ladies, have you ever felt severe pain in your breasts while sweating it out at the gym? If yes, worry not, for it's a fairly common complaint. However, many women who face the problem may find it too embarrassing to talk about it and seek help. Now that, say experts, is not a good idea. Here's why:
Why does it happen?
Hormonal changes prior to periods may cause water retention and bloating. In fact, many women find that their bras have become tighter during this time. While exercising, the movement of arms and chest muscles exacerbate this discomfort, which can border on pain, explains gynaecologist Dr Firuza R Parikh.
"Usually, the pain is not emanating from the breast tissues. What hurts are the pectoral muscles under the breast. They stretch during exercise, particularly the upper body exercise, to mimic breast pain. A slightly loose garment around the bust will help prevent the tightness and thus relieve the pain," says Dr Parikh.
What should you do?
"Firstly, you should identify the particular exercise that triggers it. It need not necessarily be chest exercises; it could even be skipping or running. The problem generally occurs when you wear the wrong bra size. If the pain persists, consult a doctor," advises pilates expert Namrata Purohit.
How to avoid it
Purohit shares the following tips on how to avoid pain in your breasts:
- Check your bra size. Ensure your bra is right for you and the form of exercise you are doing. Wear the right bra not only during workouts but even otherwise.
- If the reason is something else, medical tests will help you identify it. In such cases, lowering the intensity of your workout helps.
- Following a healthy diet can also reduce or help prevent pain.
Tips to buy the right sports bra
If your sports bra has separate cups, your breasts should snugly fit inside them and not spill out. The lower edge of the bra (the area between the cups) should lie flatly against the chest, not away from it. The straps should fit comfortably while providing enough support.
They should neither dig into the skin nor slide while you move. If you're buying underwired bras, make sure the underwire is in tandem with the natural crease of the breast instead of digging into it or being on top of it
.
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