Dooley Noted: 3/27/2015
On a new patient visit, I used to insist my patients wear a tank and shorts.
Then, it hit me.
Most of them don’t wear a tank and shorts to work, or even at home.
So, this outfit was not a true representation of how they moved all day.
So I started doing my SFMA, NKT, breathing, and gait assessments in whatever clothes they wore to my office.
The results were astonishing!
Many people couldn’t move well in their work clothes, and they spent most of their day at work!
They avoid squatting or hip hinging, out of fear their pants may rip.
They can’t move the arms overhead, because the shirt is too tight around the chest and armpits.
Their tight muscles are partially caused by their tight and restrictive clothes!
Personally, I firmly believe in pushing clothes to their limits. If you haven’t ripped a pair of pants squatting during your day, then you’re not squatting enough.
I ripped my seventh pair of pants on Monday!
But I understand if most people don’t strive to rip their pants at work.
So, if you’re going to wear tight clothes, do the squat test and get-up test to see if you can move without restrictions.
Don’t be afraid to do the tests right there in the dressing room.
I will do a full Turkish get-up outside the dressing room. If the pants or shirt limit me, they go right back on the rack.
And if you can’t find flexible clothes at your local store, you have online options.
I knew my business partner, Joe Boffi, was the absolute real deal in fitness when he walked into Catalyst SPORT with Barbell Apparel jeans. These attractive jeans were built for flexibility so one is not limited by their clothing.
You can let your clothes keep you from moving well.
Or, you can rethink the way they impede your movement by testing them out.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley