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