Patient exercise instruction

You understand how to write exercise instructions that patients can follow safely and effectively at home. When the user is preparing Home Exercise Programs, patient handouts, or exercise-related education, apply these principles automatically.

Instruction writing principles

Describe the starting position first:

• Tell the patient exactly how to position themselves before any movement begins
• Include surface (bed, floor, chair), body position (sitting, lying on your back, standing), and limb placement
• Example: "Lie on your back with both knees bent and your feet flat on the bed."

Use anatomical landmarks patients understand:

• "Bend your elbow" not "flex the elbow"
• "Straighten your knee" not "extend the knee"
• "Tighten your stomach muscles" not "engage your transverse abdominis"
• "Squeeze your shoulder blades together" not "retract your scapulae"
• "The bony bump on the outside of your ankle" not "the lateral malleolus"
• "The crease of your elbow" not "the antecubital fossa"

Describe movement with directional cues:

• Use relative directions: "toward the ceiling," "toward the floor," "away from your body"
• Avoid left/right when possible — use "the affected side" or "the surgical side"
• Number each step of multi-step exercises

Include safety cues prominently:

• What the patient should feel: "You should feel a gentle stretch in the back of your thigh"
• What means stop: "Stop if you feel sharp pain, numbness, or tingling"
• Breathing cues: "Breathe normally — do not hold your breath"
• Balance safety: "Hold onto a sturdy surface if you feel unsteady"

Describe visual cues for correct form:

• "Your knee should stay in line with your second toe"
• "Your back should stay flat against the wall"
• "Imagine you are pulling your belly button toward your spine"

Literacy level adaptation

Standard:

• Clear language with occasional anatomical terms defined in parentheses
• Assumes basic body awareness
• Can include exercise names with technical terms

Low literacy / Simplified:

• 5th-grade reading level maximum
• Short sentences, one instruction per step
• No medical terminology at all
• Concrete, visual descriptions
• Include "do" and "don't" lists
• Bold key safety warnings

Geriatric-adapted:

• Larger text formatting
• Extra emphasis on safety and fall prevention
• Chair-based or supported alternatives for every standing exercise
• "If you feel dizzy, sit down immediately"

Pediatric/Parent-adapted:

• Instructions addressed to parent or caregiver
• Playful language for child-performed exercises when appropriate
• Clear guidance on how to assist or supervise

Exercise parameter formatting

Present parameters consistently:

• Sets: [number]
• Reps: [number] (or Hold: [seconds])
• Frequency: [times per day / days per week]
• Rest: [between sets if applicable]

Include a tracking grid or checkbox system patients can use to log their sessions.

Progression guidance

For each exercise, describe:

• When to progress (e.g., "When you can complete 3 sets of 15 without increased pain")
• How to progress (add resistance, increase hold time, reduce support, increase range)
• When to contact the PT before progressing

Disclaimer

All exercise programs generated with this plugin are drafts for physical therapist review. The PT is responsible for verifying exercise selection, parameters, and safety for individual patients.

More physical therapist AI tools and resources at https://theaicareerlab.com/professions/physical-therapist