Most classic bras are difficult to put on and take off for women with amputations, and they instead need adaptive bras that can be put on with just one hand or a couple digits in each hand.
Thanks to industry improvements around clasps and a clear need for more accessible clothing, brands like Springrose have stepped up to the challenge.
Below, we discuss all of the most important features to look for in an amputee-friendly bra and why these unique features will make a bra more comfortable and easier to use!
Front Closures
The first feature you’ll want to look for with any amputee-friendly bra is a front closure system. Most traditional bras have a back closure system that requires the use of both hands behind her back and/or to temporarily put one arm in an awkward position that puts stress on the shoulder and arm muscles.
Front closures are the main feature of most adaptive bras. Most adaptive bra front closure systems use magnets, Velcro and even classic hook-and-eye closures, to make sure that the bra stays closed with the appropriate fit.
Magnetic Clasps
Magnetic clasps are one of the two most common and accessible front closure systems used in adaptive bras, and they are a perfect choice for any woman with upper body amputations. Instead of the hook-and-eye closure associated with most non-adaptive bras, magnetic bras use sets of magnets to keep the piece of underwear closed and fitted.
Magnetic bras naturally are much easier to use and manipulate than hook-and-eye closures, which is great news for women who have dexterity issues or only one hand due to their amputations.
Instead of needing to grip and align tiny hooks, magnetic bras only require their wearer to pull the sides together until the magnets can grab ahold of one another.
Further, some magnetic bras have different gripping devices, such as finger pockets, to aid in pulling the magnets together.
While magnet strength can vary by brand and even by bra, well-designed magnetic closures are made to stay securely closed and maintain a comfortable fit throughout the day.
Velcro
Velcro is the other most common and accessible front closure system used in adaptive underwear, and it’s so much easier to use for women amputees.
Instead of forcing women with amputations to struggle with a traditional hook-and-eye closure system, Velcro bras are pulled together by attaching one Velcro strip to another.
Springrose’s patented Velcro front-closure system works by pulling one end of a bra strap through a metal loop and then folding it back over itself so that it can attach to the Velcro strap on the side of the bra that the strap begins.
This unique setup allows women to open and close their bras with just one hand, and it works with either hand.
Accessible Shoulder Straps
Accessible shoulder straps are another major feature to keep in mind when looking for an amputee-friendly bra.
Traditional bras often have back-adjusting shoulder straps that are difficult to reach, but a woman with amputations will need front adjusting shoulder straps that are easily accessible, more comfortable, and fully adjustable.
When considering amputee-friendly straps, it's also important to note that not every amputation is the same. If someone is missing a few digits, that's different than someone missing an entire arm.
In the latter case, it also might be important to find a bra with racerback optional straps. Not everyone will need these, but if someone has reduced shoulder length due to an amputation, racerback straps could help reduce the adaptive bra's shoulder strap slipping.
Stretchable Fabrics
In addition to accessible and comfortable closure and adjustment features, amputee-friendly bras should always be made with stretchy fabrics. Some bras, particularly for the sake of aesthetics, may be made from coarser materials that can cause discomfort and even irritation for the women wearing them.
While traditional underwire bras can dig into the skin and cause great discomfort, women with amputations should look for wireless, yet supportive bras with stretchy fabrics that fit their body in a comfortable way. It’s an added bonus if the stretchable fabrics used in these bras are also toxin-free.
Examples of Adaptive Bras for Amputees
Springrose makes quite a few adaptive bras that have all of the amputee-friendly features listed above.
For example, the Easy-On Mobility Bra is a wireless bra with a patented Velcro front-closure system that keeps the straps together when undone, creating a wide opening so it can be put on easily with one hand, overhead without stretching, or over the hips.
The Effortless Bra is another popular front closure option from Springrose that uses a four-way magnetic latch to close and has racerback optional shoulder straps.
Conclusion
Women with upper body amputations may have dexterity and/or mobility issues that make traditional bras difficult to use, so it’s highly recommended to find bras that specifically address such needs.
Bras with front closure systems (Velcro or magnets) and front adjusting shoulder straps are the best options, and brands such as Springrose were specifically created to provide one handed bra options.