Does running cause breasts to sag?

[Anonymous]

Does running cause breasts to sag?

Thanks.

[NoBull]

In further debating with my esteemed Anonymous User colleague, I present the following:

I've dismissed most of what you said though not all of it. If you've done any scientific research, as I've have, you realize that finding evidence to support your position is what matters and not necessarily what you think is logical. I have been proving you wrong by offering evidence from a more valued source on WebMD and also Go Ask Alice.

I respect that you found a source to back up your claim; however, I think that physician is mistaken: "Dr. Christine Haycock, a respected surgeon at the New Jersey Medical School and an expert in sports medicine said,"Cooper's ligaments have nothing to do with supporting breast tissue...sagging is not related to ligaments or dependent on breast size." Further, "Many women have held the mistaken belief that sagging is caused by the failure of the Cooper's ligaments to support the breast tissue. In fact, sagging is partly determined by genetic factors, but cigarette smoking, a woman's body mass index, her number of pregnancies, the size of her breasts before pregnancy, and age are all influencing factors." (see: Wikipedia section on Cooper's Ligaments). And, yes, I know what the Cooper's ligaments are but was trying to keep the discussion less technical for people here.

If anything, the Cooper's ligaments would strengthen jogging just like any muscle or ligaments would with exercise and resistance. Now that is logical:-)

[Anonymous]

There's a lot of misinformation posted so far so I'll help clarify some things.

Sagging is the result of extra skin. Think of your skin tissue it like an elastic, you keep stretching, it'll keep expanding. Though the human body is a lot more resilient than any rubber band.

Every step you take sags your breasts, that's just gravity. That's why old women have saggy breasts. The bigger the bust, the bigger the weight and as a result you sag quicker.

A petite girl will not have this problem, because the fat in her breasts is nothing compared to a big bust girl.

So yes, running can cause sagging. Another fact, running is a cardiovascular exercise and you will lose fat (possible reduction of breast size).

Be sure to wear proper support

[NoBull]

I'm sorry, but you are the one spreading misinformation on this topic. Sagging has nothing to do with extra skin, every step a woman takes does not cause her breasts to sag, and running is highly unlikely to cause sagging breasts. The only statement that holds some merit is that a petite girl will have less sagging though that is due to her less BMI.

[Opinion Owner]

The human skin is pretty elastic.

Given the right conditions such as heavy weights attached to skin (breast fat) you can stretch the skin. Think of lip and ear piercings eastern civilizations have. Another example is when someone overweight rapidly loses weight(pregnancy/obesity), they're left with extra skin as a result. It stretches the skin.

I get the feeling you think when I say every step sags breast, that you think one step = perky breasts > sagging to knees. That's not what I meant.

[NoBull]

It is true that rapid losing of weight will lead to stretching of the skin resulting in the appearance of skin sagging. And, as a woman ages her skin becomes less elastic which can likewise contribute to the appearance of sagging, but age also results in loss of breast glandular and connective tissue, that is the MAJOR contributor of causing breast sagging with age (along with the number of pregnancies she's had and if she smokes).

[NoBull]

So to clarify, it is NOT extra skin, as you say, but the decreased elasticity of skin that can contribute to breasts sagging with age. If you have evidence to the contrary, please tell us.

Breasts are not the same as attaching artificial objects like piercings that will stretch tissues. Working out, including jogging, will, if anything, strengthen the supporting ligaments to the breasts to avoid sagging. It is good for any woman, or man, to exercise.

[Opinion Owner]

First of all, thank you for informing me breasts are not the same as artificial objects.

Stretched skin can have the appearance of extra skin, where when I wrote extra previously, I did mean stretched.

But that's not the question we were responding to. Running can and WILL permanently stretch the Cooper's ligaments (the connective tissue maintaining breast shape) without proper support. Like any part of the body, it's simple wear & tear.

Please check yourself.

[NoBull]

OK, wait...checked myself. Checked out good, thanks.

Look at the list I copied from WebMD concerning the reasons breasts sag. Running is NOT on the list. This is a more credible source than other websites you might find supporting your position. I have a feeling the sports bras companies embellished the benefits of their products beyond easing breast pain when exercising.

A more user-friendly source for these kinds of questions is: Go Ask Alice from Columbia University. Check that out.

[Opinion Owner]

I doubt you really looked up the Cooper's ligament.

Look, all you've done so far is simply, 1) be dismissive to anything I have to say, 2) say I'm wrong without proving me wrong, 3) using an expert's opinion as your evidence. "I'm right... because an expert said so.)

Here, from your website.

"...leads to some of the sagging, too," Downey says. Hence the term "Cooper's droopers.""

Source: link

[anon5]

to specifically answer your question, if you didn't wear a sports bra (which is insane), yes, the motion of running would cause them to sag; they are sacks of skin/glands/fat, and repetitive downwards motion will take a toll and possibly create stretch marks depending on your skin's reaction. if you did wear a good sports bra (that is supportive and snug, but not too tight that you can't inhale/exhale), then you should be fine.

guess it depends on your cup size. for a-c cups, a decent sports bra will address your needs, no problem. if you're bigger, I've heard it can be really difficult to find a good sports bra, and women with dd+ typically cannot do high intensity activities like running or aerobics because of back problems and/or feelings of discomfort (social, physical).

personally, I love running and I feel more free and able to run like the wind when I'm leaner, and part of that is because my breasts get a little smaller (b cups). that is most ideal and manageable for me as an athlete. I also feel less self conscious and more physically confident. I know that is a little counter-intuitive to most, but that's how I feel about running.

[iluvchewbucca]

Yes, if they are bouncing.

the bigger they are the more prone they are to sag, because it's harder to hold them down completely.. so even if you're wearing a very tight sports bra while running, they will still bounce. The smaller they are the less likely they are to sag, because they can be held secured more easily. (now if you have small saggy breast, then you were just struck with bad luck ugly boobs)

So tighten them up as much as possible IF they bounce too much while you're running.

And when you're not running or doing any extreme jumping, don't tighten them up so much, let them almost be free and they'll stay perkier longer (unless they are naturally huge, then you need more support).

[Izzy2102]

Yes. kinda off. Everything you do makes your breast sag over time. When you walk your breast naturally jiggle a bit stretching out the skin around it. Running just intensifies that, so it will show earlier.

I wouldn't give up running because of it though. Wear a comfortable sports bra.

[NoBull]

Interesting question!

I doubt jogging causes sagging breasts. According to WebMD, the following factors contribute to sagging breasts:

BMI -- body mass index, a measure of your percentage of body fat

The number of pregnancies you've had

A large pre-pregnancy breast size

Age

A history of smoking

I venture that age is actually the biggest factor over a woman's lifetime to cause sagging breasts since they atrophy as you get older.

In all likelihood, your breasts will sag less jogging since the motions will strengthen the ligaments supporting the breasts. It may feel like they might sag since you might feel soreness, but think of that like when you feel sore after working your muscles. Follow CrazyNKinky's advice. Working your back muscles, especially the rhomboids, will better ensure your posture is kept more upright so you, and your breasts, don't appear to sag.

[BatDoc]

Depends on how you're running. If you are running without any sort of support, the answer is, over time, yes. That's simple physics. If you have a sports bra with support, then no, not really.

Your breasts will naturally sag over time. There are a lot of things that contribute to sagging breasts, including but not limited to your physical arrangement (women who are apple shaped have an increased chance for sagging over time), breast size (larger breasts sag more, again, physics), genetics, age (which contributes to reduced elasticity of the skin), and pregnancy just to name a few.

As for you, I don't have enough information to make an accurate assessment, but if you're really worried about it, try some exercises that strengthen your shoulder and upper chest muscles. Those areas are partly responsible for how your breasts sit on your chest and can help combat some of the effects of sagging.

[Anonymous]

if it's hurting your breasts it probably is... wear a welling fitting sport's bra and something I do is keep my fore arms close to my chest and sorta hug the girls if things get too bumpy.lol

[Asker]

Me too! lol

[CrazynKinky]

Simple way to reduce breast sagging. Work your back muscles and your pecs it reduces sagging while running wear a sports bra not the cheap one but the ones like under armor it actually fits properly like a bra but holds everything tight to you

[AlissaGoodVibes]

Nah. Never heard of that before. Plus, most women wear sports bras which keep breasts firm and tight. So, it's not like they're flopping all over the place lol.

I know it gives you a nice badonkadonk though ;)

[steveguitar]

Never heard of that before, but if its true than many girls will stop playing sports. Ask a professional doctor. I think that breasts will just naturally lose their elasticity and perkiness over time, but I don't think running will do anything to them

[jacquesvol]

That depends on your cup size.

Beasts are composed of skin, a gland and fat tissue over a layer of muscle, not much more. To see what happens if you run, look at this bounce-o-meter (pick your size and sport and imagine the tension on the skin.): link it's a pub for sports bras. Look at the girl on the left.

[jacquesvol]

Another bit of information: link and link and link

[jacquesvol]

link

[Bluegameroyon]

i've heard that the chances of breasts sagging increase for women who give birth than those who don't.

basically, the more babies you give birth to, the more you sag... although I'm not sure if this is true.

it could also be aging. but I doubt fitness contributes to it lol.

[madhatters4]

i've heard the sagging in child birth often has more to do with breast feeding after birth than just child birth alone...but heck that's only what I've heard from a few women so who knows

[Izzy2102]

The sagging after pregnancy doesn't really have much to do with breastfeeding. For most women their boobs grow during pregnancy and then shrink again after giving birth, leaving lose skin. That happens disregarding of wehter women breastfeed or not

[thoronmegil]

Only if you're doing high impact running while topless. Find a decent sports bra and don't worry about it.

[esewei]

i think they would actually get firmer and maybe smaller because you are losing weight throughout your whole body when you run they might actually look higher ;p.. ha ha I don't know tho! I don't think they will sag go run! :)

[HandsomeRaj]

Just as much as a man's balls sag because of running ;) :D

If you are wearing a proper sports bra and a man wears proper support only good things happen :)

[Izzy2102]

Not generally wrong, but boobs have a much bigger volume and weight, so effects will be much visible

[HandsomeRaj]

Thank you Izzy2012 :) but guess if the proper sports bra is worn it won't affect as much unless the breasts are really large in size and thus heavier- just a logical assumption if I may call it that, no research behind that - you may treat that as a query :)

[JamielovesKU]

I would think running might keep them from sagging...

[theblondeguy]

i pretty sure it a no I've never heard that and I did track for years and talk to all the girls when we weren't competing or had a break at practice...

but I might depend on cup size what ru?

[Joedog]

Generally - No it does not! Join a running club and ask the girls (or as us guys do - have a good look!)

[tokioangel95]

If they're larger than average then maybe, I don't really know. Sports bra's are there to give you extra support and minimise sagging and stretching.

[madhatters4]

it's funny that you are teh only woman to have given her expertise...otherwise it's just all dudes. what the heck do we know...haha

[Anonymous]

if you have stretch marks on them..do some breast firming workouts ...YouTube them! It works!

[questioner1991]

I doubt it if anything I would think it would make it perkier because it will tone your body.

[Anonymous]

If anything, I'd imagine it'd help keep them firm/fit, not make them sag.

[TimTomTank]

I don't think so, but wear a sports bra just in case! lol

[Deviouscourage]

Not sure, but it could all be resolved with chest work outs.

[Anonymous]

It can. Especially if you tie them to a stationary object before you start running.

[Anonymous]

Yes it does but so does time, life, standing, walking, running, skipping and hop scotch. Gravity is a bitch huh :P

[Anonymous]

I don't know but would I love to see you running and watch you in slow motion

[smilingirl]

do more hand-stand if you want

[30YearOldVirgin]

If it did a lot more women would have saggy boobs.

[Muratek]

Yes. You're Welcome... : p

[Anonymous]

No it can improve them as you move about

[kangaru]

No, I don't think so

[Anonymous]

Gravity

[Anonymous]

That and old age.