A specialized bra may reduce pain for women recovering from heart surgery.

Dr. Kathryn King, a University of Calgary researcher, says her study of 481 women in 10 cities across Canada suggests those who wore the bra had significantly less post-surgical breast pain and discomfort, compared to women in a control group.

University of Calgary researcher Kathryn King (front) came up with the idea for the specialized bra for women who have had heart surgery. (Ken Bendiktsen/Canadian Press)

King presented findings of the two-year study at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Vancouver on Sunday.

She designed the bra for women who experience breast numbness and pain after surgery. 

"On the whole, the women loved it.  It's easy to put on, and it also helps protect their modesty," King said in a news release.

The new design stops the weight of the breast from putting pressure on the surgical wound. It also allows women to wear a bra immediately after the operation, instead of three or four days later. 

The study, funded by the Canadian Institute for Health Research, is the first with scientific data showing a supportive bra is safe and effective enough to be worn after heart surgery, according to King.

The soft, tight-fitting bra closes in the front with a zipper and has Velco straps. This allows the bra to adjust to changing breast sizes, which sometimes occur after surgery. The support bra also doesn't have any metal clasps that can interfere with X-rays.

Results of the study will also be published in the American Heart Journal. 

King says they will assess the economic feasibility of the bras, which are not currently covered by health insurance. Further research will also look at whether the specialized bra reduces scarring.