Did you know what you wear could be contributing to neck, shoulder and back pain?Costoclavicular syndrome, sometimes referred to as bra strap syndrome, can be caused by tight straps that pinch and dig into your shoulders. This can contribute to pressure on your shoulders and resulting pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper back.
Photo credit:Kristaps Grundsteins, Unsplash
Costoclavicular syndromewas introduced to describe chronic pain that soldiers experiencedafter carrying heavy packs, in which they developed stiffness and pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, and back.
Women can develop Costoclavicular syndrome afterwearing bras with tightand narrow straps,as the weight of heavy breast tissue is being supported by the straps. The bra straps themselves can be digging into the shoulders and pulling down on the clavicle (collarbone). Over time, one may notice red lines and indentations after wearing ill-suited or ill-fitting bras that pull down on the shoulders.
Narrow, tight straps put downward pressure on the clavicle
What's a wearable solution? Wear shoulder support bras with awide underbust band and wide shoulder straps designed to redistribute the weight of your breast tissue and eliminate pressure that cantrigger shoulder pain.
Back ofa Kinflyte Bra
Wide strap bras for shoulder pain
Kinflyte's patented posture design is an innovative approach to developing posture corrective sports bras. All our bras are designed with a wide underbust band to provide a solid base of support for the bust. Using an integrated system of compression panels and wide shoulder straps, breast weight is more evenly distributed across the width of the shoulders. This type of posture improving bra designhelps open up the chest and cue shoulders back instead of pulling them down and forward. For this reason, the wide straps design makes thebest bra for bra strap syndrome.
Physical Therapist and DPT J. Cobler shared this insight about women's anatomy: "With women specifically, we carry more body mass in the front and chest area. Even just the workplace environment: desk work, time spent in front of a laptop, and the greater weight in our front all tend to pull us forward. That becomes a huge contributor to impaired posture."
Back of Kinflyte Rise Bra (adjustable wide straps)
Wearing the right kind of supportive back posture bra can make a difference in the long run. Be mindful of your posture and incorporate good daily habits to maximize long term benefits.
Kinflyteproducts are not a medical device. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. You should always consult your professional medical doctor for advice, diagnosis, and treatment.
FAQs
The most important clues to diagnosis are the deep grooves on both shoulders where tight, narrow bra straps have cut. deeply into the underlying soft tissues (Figs 2-4). Direct downward pressure with a forefinger in the groove reproduces symptoms. Invariably, there is tenderness over the acromiocla- vicular joint.
How do you prevent bra strap syndrome? ›
Wear shoulder support bras with a wide underbust band and wide shoulder straps designed to redistribute the weight of your breast tissue and eliminate pressure that can trigger shoulder pain.
What exercises are good for bra strap syndrome? ›
How to fix shoulder pain from bra straps exercises? Shoulder pain can be alleviated by performing shoulder rolls, wall slides, chest stretches, resistance band pull aparts, upper back rows, doorway pec stretches, YTWLs, posture correcting exercises, chin tucks, and many other exercises.
Can bra straps cause nerve pain? ›
While there can be multiple reasons for such pain, one common cause for women experiencing this pain could be due to their bras. Bra Strap Syndrome, refers to Costoclavicular Syndrome – compression or irritation of the nerves, blood vessels, or both in the thoracic outlet area.
What is the treatment for Costoclavicular syndrome? ›
Some may need treatment with local ice or heat and simple analgesics. Occasionally an injection of corticosteroid and local anaesthetic into the acromioclavicular joint may be required. In extreme cases surgical reduction of breast size by mammo-plasty produces excellent results.
What are the symptoms of bra? ›
Signs You're Wearing the Wrong Bra
- Neck and Back Problems. 1/10. Experts disagree on whether improper bra fit can cause neck and back pain. ...
- Breast Pain. 2/10. ...
- Nipple Pain. 3/10. ...
- Skin Issues. 4/10. ...
- Headaches. 5/10. ...
- The Best Fit. 6/10. ...
- How to Find Your Fit. 7/10. ...
- Find Your Cup Size. 8/10.
Wearing the wrong band size is the most likely reason your bra is riding up. If it's too loose, the bra can move around. It can ride up at the back or the front, both of which can be very uncomfortable. To find your accurate band size, you'll need a soft tape measure to hand.
What muscle is under your bra strap? ›
Prolonged pressure from bra straps, dig into the upper trapezius muscles, scalenes and/or pectorals causing redness, soreness, tightness and pain.
Could my bra be causing shoulder pain? ›
Yes, shoulder pain, spine pain, sore red marks from your shoulder straps and grooves where your straps lie, called bra strap syndrome, can happen if your bra doesn't fit correctly and you are in the wrong size bra. Straps that dig into the shoulders and make the shoulders sore are not comfortable to wear.
How do you stay in shape with IT band syndrome? ›
5 Recommended Exercises for Iliotibial Band (ITB) Syndrome
- Side-lying leg raises.
- Forward fold.
- Cow Face Pose.
- Seated twist.
- Foam roller.
- Other remedies.
- Recovery time.
Some women can experience upper back pain due to a large chest. The combination of the weight of the breasts, bra straps, and self-consciousness can lead to forward rounded shoulders, which is a prime reason for upper back pain. This can also be an issue during pregnancy. The rib joints can also be pain generators.
How can I stabilize my breasts? ›
A quality, properly fitted bra gives added support that reduces the strain and stress on your breasts' supporting tissues and muscles. If you gain or lose weight, make sure you get re-fitted.
Why is my bra suddenly so uncomfortable? ›
An ill-fitting bra can also cause pain not just in the back but it can also cause skin irritation. If a bra is too large then it is able to move around and therefore rub the skin. Similarly, if a bra is too small it will squeeze and dig in which may cause irritation.
Why do I have dents in my shoulders from my bra? ›
A band or cup size that is too small for your bust can cause a bra to dig into your shoulders. Keep in mind that bra sizes can vary considerably between clothing brands; for instance, a 34C from one brand may be a 36B or a 32D in other brands.
Why does my bra cause me pain? ›
If the straps are too tight, they may cause additional pressure that can lead to neck or shoulder pain and headaches. A wrong cup size can cause the centre part of the bra floating up and not lying flat with your body. Breasts fit comfortably in your bra, both in the cup and on the sides.
What is bra diagnosis? ›
Bilateral renal agenesis (BRA) is a rare and life-limiting condition in which the baby's kidneys never develop. The role of the kidneys is to clean waste out of the body and control fluid balance.
What causes bra strap indentations? ›
What Causes Bra Strap Indentations? One of the most frequent causes of bra strap indentations is overly heavy breasts that increase pressure on your shoulder straps. This excess pressure digs into your skin, which can lead to uncomfortable and often painful grooves.
What does it mean if the middle of your bra doesn t touch your chest? ›
If the bra does not sit flat on the chest then it means the bra could be too small in the cups. If your bra cup size is too small, then it is impossible for the underwire to lie flat against your chest. Instead, the wire sits on top of your breast tissue and the centre panel will not lie flat against your chest wall.
