Nov 2, 2009 6:06 pm US/Eastern
Back Pain & Your Ill-Fitting Bra
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Do you suffer from a stiff neck or an aching back or both? It's possible that your bra could be the reason for those neck, shoulder or back aches but there is a certain type of bra that could relieve your pain.
As a hair stylist, 33-year-old Maria Pacifico uses her arms all day, and figured that was causing her back and neck pain.
"A burning sensation right on the back of my shoulder blades," said Maria.
She was shocked when she got a new bra, the pain went away.
"At the end of the night, I can actually go home and not be in pain," said Maria.
Her new salvation is a racer back bra.
"That tends to give more support in the back and that is where all the support from the bra should come from," said Dr. Seth Scholl.
He says women are usually surprised to learn their back pain is coming from an ill fitting bra.
"They think they pulled a muscle that never went away and continues to get worse and worse," said Dr. Scholl.
He says bras that don't fit properly can put too much pressure on muscles and nerves in the neck and back.
Amy Kinzel learned she was also wearing a bra that was too small.
"The back pain I had was between the shoulder blades. I had a burning between the shoulder blades and across the middle of my back. I didn't really have any idea it had to do with my bra at all," said Amy.
Once she was properly fitted with an adjustable strap bra, that works like a racer back, Amy's back pain was gone.
"It was amazing, and I was very happy because there is a solution. So it was great," said Amy.
Some tell-tale signs you are wearing the wrong bra size include:
- Spilling out over or under the cups.
- Underwire sticking out front or digging under the arms.
- Wrinkled cups.
- Bra band or straps digging in back fat.
- Straps falling off.
Experts say 80-percent of women wear the wrong bra size, usually too small.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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