When you suffer from frozen shoulder, the first thing your doctor will tell you is that although you need to stay mobile, you should avoid pulling, jerking, and jarring movements. In other words, you pretty much can’t do anything you’d need to do to get a standard bra on or off.

At the age of 55, I never expected to be searching for the best bra for frozen shoulder with a laundry-list of requirements like:

·         Doesn’t make me reach behind my back

·         Has comfortable straps

·         Doesn’t require me to lift my arms above my head…

But here we are. The good news? I’ve gone through the headache so (hopefully) you don’t have to.

The Best Bras for Frozen Shoulder: What Really Works

Before I became yet another victim of frozen shoulder, I’d like to think I had a pretty varied selection of bras – sports bras, t-shirt bras, even the occasional bralette. Now that my joints have betrayed me, I’m always searching for a few things, which I’d advise you to prioritize too:

·         A front-closing clasp: Trust me, you don’t want to deal with having to actually reach around your back to fasten (or open) your bra.

·         Wide, supportive straps: The wider the strap, the less it will dig into your shoulders. My best tip? Look for straps that adjust from the front too.

·         Comfort: Frozen shoulder is painful enough. You don’t want to add insult to injury with wires that dig into your ribs, or scratchy material.

I’ve found a few options that definitely work (some better than others), so here’s my officially ranked list, from “decent” to “incredible”:

The Silverts Adaptive Front Snap Bra: Comfy for Recovery

★★☆☆☆

The first time I visited my doctor for advice about dealing with frozen shoulder, she told me that adaptive apparel was probably my best bet. I know it sounds weird, but adaptive clothing is specially designed for those of us with stiffness, disabilities, or mobility issues.

Silverts is one of the most popular adaptive wear brands I’ve seen online, so I decided to give their “Adaptive front snap bra” a try. Here’s what I like about it: it’s wire-free, the material is soft and breathable, and the clasp opens in the front. The shoulder straps are quite wide too.

So, why didn’t I rate it any higher? A few reasons. First, while the shoulder straps are wide, they’re not adjustable, so I don’t feel like I’m getting the best fit.

Secondly, though the front-facing clasp is easy to close, it also opens far too easily. If I move too quickly, or bend in a certain way, the buttons just pop open. That’s definitely not ideal.

Finally, there’s really no support from this bra. It might be fine for bed rest, but if you want plenty of coverage and a little lift when you’re out and about, there are better options out there.

Playtex 18-Hour Front-Close Bra: Excellent Straps

★★★☆☆

I found this bra on Amazon when I was looking for a “full coverage” adaptive bra. The first thing that stood out to me (aside from the attractive design), was the front closure. The second thing was the padded shoulder straps – which I thought would be incredible for my aching joints.

This bra is actually very good in a lot of ways. The straps are very comfortable (although they seem to bulge out a little underneath my clothing). The bra itself offers plenty of coverage, and a decent amount of support, even without the addition of wires.

I also like the fact that there’s plenty of back and side support. The main thing that stop this option from being the best bra for frozen shoulder is the material. It’s not very breathable, and the band seems to dig into my skin in all of the wrong places.

I’m not a huge fan of the front closure either – there are a lot of fiddly clips to snap together, which makes me feel like I’m spending hours in front of the mirror each morning.

The Shefit Lounge Bra: My Favorite Sports Bra

★★★★☆

I like to stay fit, even if I’m limited in the exercises I can do with my frozen shoulder. After dealing with this issue for a while, though, my doctor has given me an exercise regime I can do without causing myself too much pain – so I wanted a bra to match.

The Shefit Lounge Bra was recommended to me by my sister. She doesn’t have the same shoulder problems, but she does struggle with arthritis, and said the zip closure makes it really easy to get this bra on and off. That’s definitely true in my opinion. The zip isn’t quite as secure as I’d like (it can slide down at times), but I think that’s just a problem if you have a larger bust, like me.

The material is lovely and breathable, and there are no wires or annoying seams. You also get removable cups for extra coverage. The biggest problems with this bra is that you don’t get a lot of support, and the material is very tight (so it’s not great for all-day wear).

I’d still recommend it for physical therapy or light exercise though. Just make sure you have something more comfortable to change into when you’re ready to rest.

The Liberare Comfort Sculpt: The Most Comfortable Bra By Far

★★★★☆

The first few bras I tried were decent. They got the job done, but they were always missing something, like nicer material, or a simpler clasp. After I complained about that to my friend, Jen, she told me to try Liberare – a company that specializes in adaptive, easy-to-wear bras.

Since comfort was my number one priority at the time, I decided to try out the “Comfort Sculpt” bra – and that’s when everything changed.

This is by far the most comfortable bra I’ve ever worn. The material is so soft it feels like a dream. The wide straps are another major bonus. They’re perfect for distributing weight evenly across my shoulders, and soothing that excess pain.

Even better? The front-closure is revolutionary. It has magnets built-in that help to guide the clips together, so you’re not tugging, pulling and struggling. This is an absolutely brilliant bra all-around. The only reason it’s not my top pick, is that it doesn’t offer as much support as I’d like.

The Liberare Smooth-On T-Shirt Bra: My Number One Pick for Larger Busts

★★★★★

This is by far the best bra I’ve ever worn as a lady with a fuller figure, with or without frozen shoulder. It’s one of the few comfort bras I’ve tried that actually feel amazing to wear, and still give you a decent amount of support and lift. Like the Comfort Sculpt Bra I mentioned above, this Liberare product comes with that amazing magnetic front clasp, and super-soft material.

The difference with the Smooth-On T-Shirt bra is you also get molded cups to help lift, shape, and separate, without the need for wires.

I would have liked the shoulder straps to be a little thicker, but the extra material around your back and sides helps to reduce the strain on your shoulders anyway. What really makes this bra so excellent is how confident it makes me feel. It looks great underneath anything I wear, and it it’s so flattering.

If you want a bra that you can comfortably wear anywhere, and you have a slightly larger bust, this is probably the best option for you.

The Liberare Everyday Easy-On Bra: The Best Overall

★★★★★

After being blown away by the first two Liberare bras I tried, I just couldn’t resist investing in another – and I’m glad I did. If you’re looking for the best bra for frozen shoulder that combines support, comfort, and simplicity, this is the perfect all-rounder.

The Everyday Easy-On bra still has that fantastic magnetic front closure, as well as finger loops to make getting dressed and undressed less of a battle. The fabric is ultra smooth and soft, with no annoying wires to dig into your ribs.

The adjustable straps and flexible back band are also excellent for days when stiffness or swelling issues start to flare up. The first time I put this bra on was the first time I made it through a whole day without constantly tugging, adjusting, and grimacing.

Even when I’m not having a bad pain day, this is still one of the first bras I reach for. Comfort this good is hard to give up.

 

The Best Bra for Frozen Shoulder: Real Winners

If you’re still struggling to find the best bra for frozen shoulder, all of the options mentioned above have their merits. For me though, the three Liberare bras: the Comfort Seamless Bra, Smooth-On T-Shirt Bra and the Everyday Easy-On Bra are definitely the crown champions overall.

If you haven’t tried a Liberare bra yet and you struggle with shoulder issues, give this company a try -I guarantee you won’t regret it.