Why a Well-Fitting, Velcro® Front-Closure Bra Matters More Than You Think

I’ve spent more than a decade designing adaptive intimate apparel, and one principle has never changed: getting dressed should not require more strength or patience than a woman has on any given morning. That’s why our Easy-Open bra exists—and why it was named the #1 arthritis-designed bra by VeryWellHealth.com. I’m proud of that recognition because it reflects what real women found through real use: this bra makes dressing easier.

That commitment is personal for me. Fresh Comfort’s bra designs grew out of my experience with my mother, who lived with diabetes and went through an amputation. Watching how much something as ordinary as getting dressed could affect her comfort, dignity, and independence shaped the way I design: every detail has to make real life easier.

Arthritis Affects Millions of American Women

As an intimate apparel designer, I pay close attention to the everyday challenges women face—and arthritis is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting them.

• The CDC reports that 18.9% of U.S. adults had diagnosed arthritis in 2022 — and women were far more likely to have it than men, at 21.5% vs. 16.1%.
• Other CDC data puts the number even higher: roughly 53.2 million U.S. adults with diagnosed arthritis, again with women out-pacing men.
• 58.5 million U.S. adults have arthritis overall, and 25.7 million say it limits what they can do day to day — a number expected to climb to 78 million adults by 2040.
• Arthritis becomes far more common with age, affecting just 3.6% of adults 18–34 but 53.9% of adults 75 and older — right when independence in daily self-care matters most.

Behind each number is a woman deciding whether getting dressed will feel manageable or difficult that morning.

Getting Dressed Is a Real, Documented Challenge

This is not just a perception; federal health data confirms it. Adults with a disability have a much higher rate of diagnosed arthritis (40.5%) than those without one (16.6%). Caregivers with arthritis also report difficulty dressing or bathing at more than six times the rate of caregivers without it. For many women, dressing is harder than it should be—and that is exactly the problem I set out to solve.

Why the #1-Ranked Design Works

When I design adaptive intimate apparel, I focus on fit, construction, and real-life performance—not just how a garment looks on paper. That is why our Easy-Open bra earned its #1 ranking, and it comes down to three key features:

• Ease of use. The Velcro® front closure eliminates the need to reach behind your back or struggle with tiny hooks—two common problems for anyone with limited grip strength or hand pain.
• Ease of care. The bra is designed to hold its shape wash after wash, so the fit you appreciate on day one is still there months later.
• All-day comfort. Wide straps spread the weight evenly, a wide band stays put without digging in, hidden seams prevent rubbing, and removable cup pads add shape without bulk.

That combination is exactly why women—and the experts at VeryWellHealth.com—ranked it #1.

Not Just for Arthritis

Arthritis is the condition we hear about most often, but many women also come to us after stroke recovery, Parkinson’s, MS, fibromyalgia, diabetes-related nerve issues, or recent surgery. Whatever the cause, a front-closure, easy-fasten bra addresses the same need: getting dressed with less effort and more comfort.

The Bottom Line

More than one in five American women live with arthritis, and for many, something as simple as getting dressed is a daily challenge. A bra should not add to that. It should be one less thing to think about—which is exactly why our #1-ranked Easy-Open bra was designed this way.

Learn more about our Easy-Open and Easy-On Velcro® front-closure bras at freshcomfortinc.com.

Maria E Valencia, President & Founder

Sources

• CDC/NCHS Data Brief No. 497, "Arthritis in Adults Age 18 and Older: United States, 2022" — cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db497.htm
• CDC MMWR, "Prevalence of Diagnosed Arthritis — United States, 2019–2021" — cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7241a1.htm
• CDC, Chronic Disease Indicators: Arthritis — cdc.gov/cdi/indicator-definitions/arthritis.html
• CDC MMWR, "Prevalence and Characteristics of Arthritis Among Caregivers — 17 States, 2017 and 2019" (self-care disability data)
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), niams.nih.gov