Going to a physio...I have a few questions

[SlowyMcSlowlegs]

I've never been to a physio before as I work on the strict principle that I only go to the Dr if I'm close to death or something has fallen off! I really want to get back to running but my hip is still sore so I've decided that I need expert help. Sorry but here are a few questions I need answering to calm my nerves....

What do I have to wear?

Will they strip me down to my underwear?

Should I wear my sports bra in anticipation of having to go on a treadmill?

Thank you in advance. Sorry for how silly these questions are!

[Equi-geek Graduate10]

These are not silly questions! It is perfectly reasonable to be anxious about the experience. When I have been to a physio for my back they have carried out an assessment of range of movement with me clothed. When they were treating my back with some kind of machine I needed to have a bare back, so I wore a gown but kept my trousers on (just undone enough to reach the right parts. I had pains down the outside of my hip once too and needed to have trousers off and a gown, but kept socks/pants on and my t-shirt. On Monday I had to go for pains in my foot and needed bare feet, but didn’t have to undress. If you wear your sports kit, that you can move easily in, they can look at your posture and movement really easily and you might not need to undress at all if they can do all the treatment and stretches with you clothed. So I go dressed as if going for a run with a long winter coat over the top to avoid frightening the locals! The physio will leave the room while you get changed into a gown, if you need to, and again so you can get re-dressed after. X

[Jell6 Graduate10]

I wore a tee shirt and some cycling type shorts ( I looked a bugger!)

The physio will want to observe how your muscles move.

A sports bra would be a good idea, I wish I had thought of it, but I didn't expect to go on the treadmill, even on my second and third visit 🤯

Plus the trainers you have been wearing to run .

Hope all goes well.

[roseabi]

Ask them! 😊 It's most certainly not a silly question.

[Little-runner]

Hey! I went to a physio recently for pains in my hip. I wore shorts and a sports bra as they may want to have a good look at your posture, and how you move. I don't imagine they will want to put you on a treadmill initially. They'll assess you standing up and ask you to walk around, looking at you from the front, back and the side. They may also ask you to touch your toes, arch back and look at your side bends. They will also get you to lie on a couch and move your legs around, just let them take the weight of your legs. They'll ask you to push against them with your legs in certain angles too. They'll also ask you lots and lots of questions about your medical history, activity and things like that. It could be that your hip pain is referred from something that happened years ago, or it could be something to do with a problem in your big toe or something seemingly unrelated! Good luck and let us know how you get on! x

[SlowyMcSlowlegs]

Thank you all for your replies. I ended up wearing my usual sports kit and was then asked to remove my bottom half to my knickers. Thankfully I'd thought carefully about my choice of underwear! He moved my legs around a lot but couldn't work out what is wrong so I now have an appointment for an ultrasound scan. Hope they can work out what is wrong so they can start making things right. Thanks for your support.