Sports bras do a really important job of providing support whilst you're exercising. Having the right support means that you reduce the risk of trauma to the breast tissue and in turn reduces any risk of breast and back pain during and after exercise.

If your sports bra doesn't fit like it should, then it's not able to provide support to your body in the way that is should. But how do you know if your sports bra is fitting as it should? This guide is here to help.

There are three things you need to check when looking at how your sports bra fits: the band, the cup and the straps.

The best place to start when trying sports bras is by finding the size that corresponds to your 'normal' bra size. The easiest way to find that is by checking out the size guide of the sports bra to see the measurements around the band. Once you've got the appropriate size, then you can check whether they do fit correctly.

Put the sports bra on and make sure your breasts sit securely in the cup. You can do this by leaning your chest forward and scooping them so they sit comfortably. If you feel like they're spilling out, feel too squished together or there's too much movement/not enough support then it's a good idea to change the size.

Once you're sure that the cups are right, it's time to check the band, that's the stretchy section that sits under your bust. You don't want the band to feel too tight or too loose. You should be able to run two fingers around the side quite comfortably. Another easy test is to take a couple of big, deep breaths in without feeling any restriction. If you do, you know the size is too small.

Now that you've checked that the cups and the band, you can check the straps. Some straps may be adjustable, but this seems to mainly be on high intensity sports bras. (If you want to know what type of sports bra you need to each activity, we also have a blog on that called How To Choose the Right Sports Bra Support Level for Your Next Workout.) If the straps leave a red mark or feel like they're digging in, then the straps are too tight. If you're able to pull your straps upwards and there's more then a couple of inches of give, then they're too lose.

Making sure your sports bra fits correctly helps to ensures no future issues with your breasts and breast tissue. You are supported and able to exercise without worrying about any sort of pain. There has been many, many studies carried out that show the benefits of wearing a correctly fitting sports bra. A study carried out by the University of Portsmouth showed that around 17% of athletes that had been given a bra assessment actually felt like it had significantly their performance.