Abstract: To study the effects on heart rate variability indexes caused by pressure developed by women’s basketball sports bra, fifty females were employed as subjects. Their heart rate variability data was measured and changes of the data were evaluated objectively while they were wearing different sports bras and playing basketball. The results showed that there was a correlation between clothing pressure and partial heart rate variability indexes. From the relevant test positions, the pressure of the large curvature regions, which included inferior angle of scapula and the body side, had a significant impact on heart rate variability indexes. It revealed that clothing pressure on female chest should be controlled within the scope of 2.067 to 3.268kPa to keep a stable and comfortable physiological state for the wearer. The results can provide important theoretical basis for the sports apparel industry to develop the basketball sports bra.

Key words: sports bra, clothing pressure, heart rate variability, correlation, regression analysis