The purpose of this study is to investigate whether structurally distinct bra constructions produce anatomically localized differences in interface pressure redistribution and how these differences may reflect interactions between structural configuration and material mechanical behavior.
In all, 12 women wore 4 commercially available bra designs (crossover, frame, wired and wireless), while interface pressure was measured at ten anatomically defined sensor locations. Sensor data were aggregated into six functional pressure zones. Zone-level mean interface pressure was analyzed using a two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance with bra design and anatomical zone as within-subject factors. Holm-adjusted post hoc comparisons were conducted where significant interactions were observed. Peak mean pressure was examined descriptively to characterize localized loading patterns.
A significant interaction between bra design and anatomical zone was identified, indicating that the mechanical effects of bra construction on interface pressure are region-specific rather than uniform. Post hoc analyses revealed statistically significant design-dependent differences in selected zones, particularly at the center gore and underband/lower cup regions, while other zones exhibited overlapping pressure profiles across designs. Descriptive analysis of peak mean pressure indicated that shoulder strap and lateral support regions were common sites of localized maximum loading across all designs.
This study provides objective, zone-based evidence that bra design effects on interface pressure are anatomically localized. By moving beyond global pressure metrics, the findings of this study support evidence-based evaluation of bra constructions and offer design-relevant insight into how structural features influence regional load redistribution while explicitly contextualizing pressure outcomes within structural and textile mechanical considerations.
