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Patient Questions  /  What to wear to PT

Starting Physical Therapy

What Should I Wear to Physical Therapy?

Wear comfortable, loose or stretchy clothes you can move and exercise in, plus supportive athletic shoes. Your therapist needs to see and move the area being treated, so pick clothes that make that easy, like shorts for a knee problem, or a tank top or loose T-shirt for a shoulder problem.

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What to wear for your problem area

  • Knee, ankle or foot: shorts, or loose pants that roll up above the knee.
  • Hip or back: shorts or stretchy pants with an elastic waist. You may be asked to bend, squat or lie down.
  • Shoulder or neck: a tank top, a loose T-shirt, or a sports bra with a loose top over it, so your therapist can see your shoulder blade and neck.
  • Hand, wrist or elbow: short or loose sleeves that push up easily.
  • Pelvic floor visits: comfortable clothes you'd wear to exercise.

Shoes and other tips

  • Wear supportive sneakers. You may walk, balance or exercise. Sandals, heels and boots get in the way.
  • Skip jeans, dresses, tight skirts and belts. They make it hard to bend and move.
  • Leave dangling jewelry at home.
  • Dress in layers. You may warm up once you start exercising.
  • After surgery, wear clothes that fit easily over a brace, boot or bandage, and bring any brace, sling, boot or crutches you use.
  • Coming from work? If you'll be in work clothes, bring something you can move in.

Why it matters

Clothes that let you move freely help your therapist check your strength and motion, and see how you move. They also let you do your exercises fully, so you spend less time adjusting clothes and more time on treatment.

When to see a doctor

Clothes are the easy part. See a doctor before your visit if you have:

  • After surgery: fever, or redness, warmth or drainage at your incision
  • Calf pain, swelling or warmth, which needs to be checked for a blood clot
  • A possible broken bone, or you can't put weight on a leg
  • Numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or new trouble controlling your bladder or bowels: get emergency care

How physical therapy at ARI can help

Your therapist will let you know if anything you're wearing gets in the way. If you're not sure what to wear for your problem, call us at (661) 282-8584 before your visit.

At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist, and our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.

No referral needed to start. In California, you can see a physical therapist directly for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. Some insurance plans still require a referral for coverage; call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you check.

Related questions

Ready to feel better?

Talk to a licensed physical therapist at ARI, one-on-one. Request an evaluation and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.

Request an EvaluationCall (661) 282-8584

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.

Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed October 2026