What to wear to a physiotherapy appointment

If you’re wondering what to wear to a physiotherapy appointment you’re in the right place.

Physiotherapy assessments involve movements of the affected body part along with certain resistance testing and stretching.

Additionally, there is visual examination, which is made much easier by seeing a patient’s posture and affected body part or site of injury.

However, some patients understandably don’t want to remove clothing if it’s unnecessary.

So check out our quick guide below for some tips on what to wear to get the most out of your session!

Do I have to take my clothes off for physio?

The short answer is, no you don’t have to.

You can, if you want to and feel comfortable doing so. I would always recommend that patients remove as much clothing as they feel comfortable with. This will allow for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

If you do not feel comfortable removing clothing, or if there are religious or cultural concerns, then please speak to your physiotherapist. They will be more than happy to work around these issues.

What if I don’t want to reveal the problem area?

This is not uncommon. When I worked in the midlands I frequently treated patients whose religious beliefs didn’t permit them to reveal their skin.

Religion aside, many patients may simply be embarrassed about showing their bodies to a stranger.

These are both valid reasons and should not stop you from seeking help. However, in my experience as a professional clinician, it does make accurate diagnosis and treatment rather difficult.

This is because seeing how the muscles and joints are functioning (or not, as is the case in many injuries) is so important. Furthermore, accurate palpation (feeling the site of injury) is vital to understand how the joints and soft tissues respond to physical touch.

Without this, accurate diagnosis becomes problematic. So too, treatment can suffer.

Trying to perform mobilisation and manipulation through clothing can be far less accurate.

And although some massage can be performed through clothing, other techniques and treatments like electrotherapy and ultrasound can’t be administered at all.

What should I wear to physio if I don’t want to take my clothes off?

If you don’t want to take your clothes off for physio there are a few things you can do to make sure you get the most out of your session.

  • Firstly, consider wearing loose-fitting clothing that is easy to move in. This will help the physiotherapist to see how your muscles and joints are functioning when you move.
  • Secondly, wear clothing that is easy to palpate through. This will help the physiotherapist to accurately assess and treat the problem area.
  • And finally, consider wearing shorts or a skirt instead of trousers. This will help the physiotherapist to see and feel the affected area more easily.

Can I wear leggings to physio?

This is a common question, particularly for women. The answer is yes, you can wear leggings but there are a few things to consider.

Leggings are often made of Lycra or other elastic materials. These can be difficult to palpate through and can also limit the accuracy of certain tests like stretching assessments.

Additionally, leggings are often tight-fitting. This can make it difficult to see how your muscles and joints are functioning when you move.

So, while you can wear leggings to physio, it’s worth considering what else you might wear that will be more conducive to assessment and treatment.

Can I wear jeans to physiotherapy?

This is a less common question but the answer is again, yes you can wear jeans to physio.

However, much like leggings, jeans can also make accurate assessment and treatment difficult. This is because they are often tight-fitting and made of materials that are difficult to palpate through.

So, while you can wear jeans to physio, it’s worth considering alternative clothing options.

What should I wear to a women’s health physio appointment?

If you are attending a women’s health physio appointment, it is important to wear clothing that is easy to move in and that provides access to the affected area.

For example, if you are attending an appointment for pelvic floor physio, you will need to be able to remove your clothes from the waist down.

This may involve placing a towel over your waist for modesty and asking you to remove your underwear for the examination.

If you are attending an appointment for ante or post-natal physio, you may need to be able to remove some clothing so that the physiotherapist can assess your posture and perform specific tests.

What do you wear to dry needling, acupuncture or ultrasound?

In all these examples, you will need to provide access to the affected area.

For example, if you are having dry needling or acupuncture, you will need to remove any clothing that is tight-fitting or that would get in the way of the needles.

And if you are having ultrasound, gel will need to be placed on the skin over the site of the injury.

What’s the best thing to wear to physio?

The best thing to wear to physiotherapy is clothing that is comfortable and allows for a full range of movement.

Shorts or loose-fitting trousers are ideal. In some cases, three-quarter length leggings can also work well.

For women, a sports bra or crop top may be more comfortable than a regular bra. Again, it’s important that you feel comfortable so you can focus on your physiotherapy session.

As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to avoid wearing jewellery as this can get in the way or even cause injury during certain exercises.

Upper and lower back

If you are attending physio for lower back pain, you will need to wear comfortable clothing that allows for a full range of movement.

Shoulder

A loose-fitting top that can be easily removed is often the best option. This will allow the physiotherapist to assess and treat the problem area without any restrictions.

Leg

If you are attending physio for a leg injury, it is important to wear shorts or loose-fitting trousers that allow for visibility and full mobilisation of the hip, knee and ankle.

Wrapping up

We hope this has given you some ideas on what to wear to a physiotherapy appointment.

Remember, the most important thing is that you feel comfortable so you can focus on your session and getting better!

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