What to Wear to Pelvic Floor Therapy
Starting pelvic floor therapy can be a big step for some. Many people feel anxious or unsure of what to expect, leading up to their first visit. One of the most common questions our office receives is, “What do I wear?” So let’s talk about what actually happens during a pelvic floor therapy visit, to help you better understand what to expect and what might be best to wear!
What Happens at Pelvic Floor Therapy
At your first Pelvic Floor Therapy visit, you and your therapist will likely begin by discussing your concerns, goals, and history. This will give your therapist a better idea of how to prioritize the day’s evaluation and help them to start forming a hypothesis for what may be going on and how to best treat the issue.
The evaluation itself should contains multiple components and oftentimes treatment is initiated during the first visit as well. Because of the comprehensive nature of this evaluation, it’s very common (and often necessary) to leave some items to be assessed for future visits.
A first session may include:
A Movement assessment (squatting, bending, walking)
Breathing assessment - looking at your abdomen and trunk
Core muscle testing
A Pelvic Floor Muscle Assessment (externally and/or internally, with consent)
Hands-on treatment (external and sometimes internal, with consent)
Stretches, mobility exercises, coordination exercises, strengthening exercises
As you can see, there are multiple pieces to this visit - some that involve visualizing certain areas of your body and others that would require freedom of movement. For this reason, we generally advise people to wear comfortable and flexible clothing that you can easily move in. Your therapist will ensure that you remain appropriately covered and in control of your comfort at all times.
Ideal Clothing Choices
What constitutes comfortable and flexible clothing? For starters, think of what you might wear to light workout, yoga class, or a relaxed day at home
Bottoms
👍Consider: Stretchy pants, leggings, athletic shorts, or loose joggers
🚫Avoid: stiff jeans, restrictive shapewear, tight belts
Tops
👍Consider: T-shirt, tank top, or athletic top
Layers (like a zip-up or sweatshirt) are helpful for comfort in different temperatures
Undergarments
Wear something you feel comfortable in
📢 Internal exams are always optional and always discussed first, so that you and your therapist can navigate this as a shared decision based on importance and relevance. Ultimately, your comfort will supersede all and the decision to participate will be entirely yours.
Footwear
Easy-to-remove shoes (sneakers, sandals)
Some exercises may be done barefoot or in socks
What NOT to Wear (and Why)
Certain clothing options would not be ideal for Pelvic Floor Therapy, as these may make it difficult for your therapist to visualize important parts of your body and/or movements.
Tight, restrictive clothing → This limits movement and assessment of range of motion
Complicated outfits → You may have the opportunity to change into a gown or need to adjust your clothing to better view things. Complicated outfits may make this more difficult or take longer than necessary.
Dresses/skirts (sometimes) → We take every opportunity to preserve your modesty and keep you comfortable. Dresses and skirts may make it difficult to do this, unless worn with shorts underneath.
If You’re Nervous About an Internal Exam
Feeling uncertain about an internal exam, and what that even entails, is completely normal and very common. I encourage you to not let this hold you back from starting Pelvic Floor Therapy and here’s why:
Internal assessment/treatment is always an option and never required. This type of assessment is very common and can yield a lot of great information for you and your therapist, but your comfort and feeling of safety will always come first and foremost.
If you choose to participate in an internal assessment, know that you will always have the option to stop and change courseat any time. Changing your mind is always allowed and happens from time to time.
Know that you don’t need to “prepare” for an internal exam with a specific type of clothing. Your therapist will have a gown or sheet to change in to, as needed.
Comfort > Perfection
The goal is not to “dress right,” but to feel at ease. Hopefully these tips help you to know what to expect and how clothing can impact your visit. Above all, be comfortable! If you’re newly postpartum and high waisted, soft fabrics feel best - wear that. If you have pelvic pain and certain clothing causes too much sensitivity or pressure - it’s okay to wear something flowy or oversized. Your therapist will adapt to you - not the other way around.
❓🤔 Still feeling unsure of what to expect ? —> Check out our blog that explains what Pelvic Floor Therapy is.
✨If you’ve been struggling with any symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, I’d love for you to consider working with us and getting you relief. We have both in-person and virtual options available, for your convenience.
