A New Zealand bra manufacturer has hired British biomechanics researchers to help it build a sports bra with plastic cups to protect women playing contact sports such as rugby or soccer.
Quality Performers, a New Plymouth company, asked the Portsmouth University researchers in Britain for advice on howto change its bra design to offer more protection to players in high-impact sports.
Led by Dr Joanna Scurr, the sports scientists have tested about 50 bra designs on hundreds of women during the past three years.
Dr Scurr said the speed at which breasts move could be the key to preventing breast pain and damage to fragile ligaments.
Her team helped design the bra which is expected to go on sale in Europe this year. The bra will also be available in New Zealand, though the company exports about 98 per cent of its product.
The bra has solid cups that are designed to protect the breasts when playing contact sports.
The researchers found many women will not buy a sports bra that resembles their everyday bra.
