Pursuing Armor Fit for Female First Responders
Did you know your bra makes a big difference in your armor fit and comfort?
Hi, I’m Dr. Andrea Porter
I spent the last three years researching body armor ergonomics for women for my dissertation.There’s not much out there on the subject! Armor technology advances generally focus on weight and ballistics. There’s so much more to it, especially where designing for the female body is concerned. I studied the full system—breasts, bras, armor, and duty gear—to understand how these elements affect comfort, protection, and performance. This work enables me to optimize performance in armor, decrease the chance of chronic injury from armor, and educate women on how to improve the bra/body armor interface.
(Ergonomics is the science of designing the work environment to fit the person—not making the person fit the environment.)
Consulting and Seminars
Andrea offers workshops and on-site consultations to help law enforcement agencies improve women’s body armor fit and comfort. She teaches how to identify the right bra and bra size for the female and armor, and provides evidence-based recommendations for load and equipment placement to reduce musculoskeletal strain. With expertise in ergonomics and a practical, field-ready approach—Andrea brings unique knowledge to your agency.
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