Why Wearing the Right Clothes to Your Physical Therapy Sessions Matters

James Fowler Physical TherapyFootwear, MovementLeave a Comment

Dress for Success to Make the Most Out of Your PT Appointment

Whether it’s your first time or your thirtieth time having Physical Therapy, you want to make the most of your session. One of the easiest ways to put your best foot forward is dressing appropriately for your appointment.

jumping

So how should you dress for PT?

Loose fitting clothing that is conducive to movement is always your best bet. That way, your therapists can move the fabric around and get a better sense of what is going on with your injury. If you’re someone who normally wears a bra, opt to switch out your standard attire for a sports bra. When it comes to covering your legs, shorts are always preferable to pants- however, if your injury is strictly confined to your upper body or neck, then wear whatever makes you comfortable. In scenarios like that, your therapist will likely only focus on your upper body, so you can wear pants if you’d like. Tight fitting exercise clothing that leaves large portions of the body exposed can be uncomfortable to do certain exercises with such as foam rolling, hands-on PT, and more. Clothes with long, baggy sleeves mean our PTs are constantly interrupting your sessions to adjust their positioning. For this reason, we recommend t-shirts and shorts but as long as our patients are happy, we’re happy!

physical therapy clothing

Comfort is priority

JFPT understands that this dress code isn’t for everybody and we always take into account your comfortability, religious beliefs, and safety. Your comfort is always our priority. Should you forget to bring a change of clothes, we’ve got you covered. JFPT has plenty of extra t-shirts and shorts for all body types. If you have any questions about what to wear, don’t hesitate to call and ask us- that’s what we’re here for! 

bombas socks

Fancy footwear

When it comes to footwear, we always recommend a good pair of athletic shoes. Certain exercises may require you to wear socks or even go barefoot. Many at our facility prefer Bombas® socks. They come in a large variety of heights and styles, so they’re sure to have something for everyone. But the main reason we love Bombas® is that for every article of clothing purchased on their site, the same is donated either to a homeless shelter, or a non-profit organization that will distribute the same items to at-risk communities and those in need. Again, if your injury is confined to your upper body, you may not need to worry about the shoes you wear but it’s always a good idea to be prepared!

PT attire

Keep jewelry out of the studio

To really make the most of your session, we ask you to remove as much jewelry as possible. This doesn’t apply to all jewelry. For instance, you can wear your wedding band- we will only ask you to remove it if you have a hand, wrist, or elbow injury that needs attention. Earrings are generally ok to wear unless you have a neck or cervical injury where they could potentially get in the way. We can also work around new piercings that you may not be able to remove. With less jewelry, you are able to reap the full benefits of the session without having your PT constantly stopping to ask you to adjust or remove a necklace, large bracelet, etc. 

If you’ve done all these things listed above, you’ll have a head start on your recovery process. And if you forget something, don’t panic- we’ve got you covered. See you at your next appointment! 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *