What do you wear for physical therapy

April 11th, 2019

Most importantly you might want to know what not to wear.  Suits, dresses, and skirts are usually not recommended for therapy.  Comfortable clothing is usually best for physical therapy.  If you are having a neck or shoulder problem ladies may want to wear some type of sports bra to make the area easier to examine.  If you are having low-back problems clothing that will allow your therapist to examine your spine is preferable.  If you are having hip, knee, or ankle problems shorts are a great idea to bring to your first appointment.  Rolling up your pants leg is not preferable when examining the hip or knee as it may distort the shape of your thigh or have a tourniquet effect.  If you are having a neck or shoulder problem and you have longer hair you also might want to bring a ponytail holder.

Clothing to wear to your first and ongoing appointments:

  • All patients are asked to wear loose or form fitting shorts, elastic waist preferred. The shorter the shorts the better, this allows for full visualization of the legs.
  • Females, please wear a bra top (preferable), sports bra with an OPEN BACK (see examples), or bikini top (preferable). Please do NOT wear a racer-back sports bra or any sports bra in which the straps cover the center of the spine in any manner. This is very important. Please search “open back sports bra” in your browser to find a top that works well for you. The spine needs to be visualized optimally. Examples of sports bra styles which will work well for scoliosis/kyphosis physical therapy are provided below:
  • What do you wear for physical therapy

Below are examples of sports bra back strap styles that do NOT work well for scoliosis/kyphosis specific physical therapy:

  • What do you wear for physical therapy
  • Footwear should be athletic and comfortable.

Hair

  • Long hair will need to be secured into a bun that sits on top of the head, and bangs should be secured with a barrette.

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What do you wear for physical therapy

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Top 5 Things Patients Ask Before Their First Physical Therapy Appointment

Top 5 Things Patients Ask Before Their First Physical Therapy Appointment

Top 5 Things Patients Ask Before Their First Physical Therapy Appointment

After surgery or after an accident, your physician may recommend physical therapy (PT) to help your body regain its strength and natural function. If this is your first time with PT, you may have some questions. Here, we’ve compiled some of the top questions we hear from patients when they first get started.

What should I bring to my first appointment and how should I dress?

When coming into your first appointment at one of our rehabilitation clinics, please remember to bring your ID, insurance cards/information, a list of the medications you are currently taking and your script if your doctor has not faxed it already. Please show up at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. If you’d like you can view, print, and fill out patient forms at home so you don’t have to fill them out in the office.

Additionally, if you have any recent reports from your doctor involving details from a surgery, MRI or X-Ray results you may bring those, although it is not necessary. If you are currently using a splint, sling, crutches, or any other aid, you should bring those to your appointment as well.

As for what to wear, it is important that you are comfortable. Your session may include stretches and moderate exercise, so dress as if you’re going to the gym. Suggested clothing includes:

  • Shoulders-tank tops or loose T-shirt to be able to expose shoulder
  • Knee-shorts or loose pants that can be pulled up over the knee.
  • If coming in work attire realize we may have you lying down and may wrinkle your attire and skirts/dresses make it difficult to get you in positions we may need to test or have you exercise in.
  • Appropriate footwear-for lower extremity injuries please wear athletic shoes vs sandals or high heels to perform exercises in

Will PT exercises hurt?

During PT, your therapist will stretch your muscles and may have you do exercises that cause a little discomfort – this is because they are working to increase flexibility and strength in your body. Just as after a workout, you may experience sore, tired muscles after a physical therapy session.

How long will I have to go to PT sessions?

Every PT session at Ability Rehabilitation lasts 60 minutes. Most patients benefit from visiting about three times each week.

What do you wear for physical therapy
These sessions can go on until you have reached the desired result set by you and your physician. Factors that can affect the amount of physical therapy you need include:

  • Physical activity level
  • Posture
  • Age
  • Diet
  • Medications
  • Smoking
  • Severity of injury

Will I regain full function after surgery with the help from PT?

Because results vary from person to person and each condition is different, we cannot guarantee 100% regainment of motion. However, physical therapy has been proven to help patients regain sufficient mobility after surgery. After that, your physical therapy plan will include exercises that target strengthening your back muscles and abdominals, which will help you regain full mobility.

What are modalities?

Modalities are used by physical therapists to aid with healing. They use heat, cold, and laser therapy to help strengthen, relax, and heal muscles.  Common modalities that your PT may use include:

  • Hot Packs
  • Cold Packs
  • Ultrasound
  • Tens Unit
  • Iontophoresis
  • Laser Therapy

Physical Therapy involves the development of a rehabilitation plan that will help promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function and prevent disability. Physical therapists also promote health, wellness and fitness and provide consulting education and research, according to the American Physical Therapy Association.

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What should a physical therapist wear?

To summarize, here are some ideas of clothing that are safe to wear to physical therapy: a loose-fitting, comfortable t-shirt or tank top. athletic shorts. leggings, yoga pants, or workout pants – something with an elastic waistband.

What should a physical therapy ankle wear?

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that allows you to move freely. You don't want tight or heavy materials restricting your range of motion. Stick with shorts, or at least loose exercise pants that can comfortably expose your lower leg (all the way up to the knee).

How do I prepare for physical therapy?

Before Your Visit.
Make a list of any questions you have and want to ask your physical therapist..
Write down any symptoms you've been having and for how long. ... .
Write down key information about your medical history, even if it seems unrelated. ... .
Ask a family member or trusted friend to go with you to your appointment..

Is physical therapy painful?

Will It Hurt? Physical therapy shouldn't hurt, and it will be safe. But because you'll use parts of your body that are injured or have chronic pain, physical therapy can be challenging, even hard. For example, you may feel sore after stretching or deep tissue massage.