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Remove all patient-identifying information before using Claude — Never include a patient's name, date of birth, address, or medical record number in any prompt. Describe demographics generically (e.g., "68-year-old female, retired teacher") and use condition details only. Claude is not part of your HIPAA-covered workflow, so treat every prompt as public-facing.
Specify the patient's actual equipment and environment — Telling Claude "the patient has a resistance band and a kitchen counter" produces dramatically better HEP output than leaving it open-ended. The AI will default to exercises requiring gym equipment unless you constrain it to what the patient actually has at home.
Always review exercise selections for clinical appropriateness — Claude may suggest exercises that are technically reasonable for a diagnosis but inappropriate for your specific patient's comorbidities, surgical precautions, or tolerance level. You are the clinician — read every exercise and ask yourself whether you would demonstrate this in clinic before handing it to your patient.
Adjust the reading level to match your patient population — Add explicit instructions like "Write at a 5th-grade reading level" or "This patient has limited English proficiency — use very simple vocabulary and short sentences." Claude responds well to reading level guidance and will simplify its language accordingly.
Use Claude's output as a starting point, then personalize — The best HEPs include a personal touch: reference something the patient said about their goals, name the specific activity they want to return to, or note the exercise you practiced together in clinic. After Claude generates the structure, add one or two sentences that show the patient you created this program specifically for them.
5 Claude Prompts for SOAP Notes — Physical Therapists
5 Claude Prompts for Progress Notes
Claude CoWork for Physical Therapists
ClaudePhysical TherapyBeginnerPrompt Pack
5 Claude Prompts for Home Exercise Programs — Physical Therapists
Ready-to-use Claude prompts for generating patient-appropriate home exercise programs with clear instructions and precautions.
Why Use AI for Home Exercise Programs?
Home exercise programs are the backbone of physical therapy outcomes. Research consistently shows that patient adherence to HEPs is one of the strongest predictors of recovery, yet most clinicians default to the same printed exercise sheets they have been handing out for years. The limiting factor is rarely clinical knowledge — it is time. Writing a truly individualized HEP with clear instructions, appropriate progressions, and patient-friendly language takes significantly longer than pulling a generic handout from your exercise library.
Claude can close that gap. By feeding it your patient's specific diagnosis, current functional status, precautions, and goals, you can generate a customized HEP in minutes that reads like you wrote it by hand. The output includes exercise descriptions, sets and reps, precautions, and progression criteria — all in plain language your patient can actually follow at home.
These prompts cover the five HEP scenarios PTs encounter most often: diagnosis-specific programs, post-surgical protocols with precautions, progressive multi-phase programs, fall-risk adapted programs for older adults, and patient education handouts for self-management. Each is designed to produce output you can review, adjust, and hand directly to your patient or upload to your HEP software.
The Prompts
Prompt 1: HEP for a Specific Diagnosis
Use this for a standard diagnosis-based home exercise program tailored to the patient's current ability level.
You are a physical therapy HEP specialist. Create a home exercise program for a patient with the following diagnosis and current status. The instructions must be written in plain, patient-friendly language that a non-medical person can follow independently.
Patient information:
- Diagnosis: [e.g., R lateral epicondylitis, 6 weeks duration]
- Current functional level: [e.g., can grip lightly but pain with >5 lb grip force, pain 5/10 with resisted wrist extension]
- Relevant precautions: [e.g., avoid heavy gripping, no resisted wrist extension beyond pain-free range]
- Patient goals: [e.g., return to recreational tennis, pain-free typing at work]
- Equipment available at home: [e.g., light resistance band, tennis ball, no weights]
Instructions:
- Provide 5-6 exercises with clear step-by-step directions
- Include sets, reps, and hold times for each exercise
- Specify frequency (e.g., 2x/day, daily, 3x/week)
- Add a "Stop if..." safety note for each exercise
- Use everyday language — avoid medical jargon
- Organize from warm-up/gentle exercises to more challenging ones
- Note which exercises to prioritize if the patient is short on timeExample Output:
Home Exercise Program — Right Lateral Epicondylitis
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Do these exercises 2 times per day. Each session takes about 12 minutes.
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1. Wrist Flexor Stretch (Warm-Up — Priority)
Hold your right arm straight out in front of you, palm facing up. Use your left hand to gently press your right fingers down toward the floor until you feel a stretch on the inside of your forearm. Hold 30 seconds, repeat 3 times. Stop if you feel sharp pain or tingling in your fingers.
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2. Wrist Extensor Stretch
Same position, but turn your palm to face the floor. Gently press the back of your hand downward. Hold 30 seconds, repeat 3 times. Stop if pain increases above a 3/10.
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3. Tennis Ball Squeeze (Light)
Hold a tennis ball in your right hand. Squeeze gently — about 30% of your maximum effort. Hold 5 seconds, release. Do 2 sets of 10. Stop if pain exceeds 3/10 during the squeeze.
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4. Resistance Band Wrist Curls (Palm Up)
Sit with your forearm resting on your thigh, palm facing up, holding the resistance band anchored under your foot. Slowly curl your wrist upward, then lower over 3 seconds. Do 2 sets of 12. Stop if you cannot control the lowering motion without pain.
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5. Eccentric Wrist Lowering (Priority)
Rest your forearm on a table edge with your wrist hanging off, palm facing down. Use your other hand to help lift your wrist up, then slowly lower it on its own over 5 seconds. Do 3 sets of 10. Stop if sharp pain occurs during the lowering phase.
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6. Forearm Pronation/Supination with Band
Hold the resistance band in your right hand with your elbow bent at your side. Slowly rotate your palm up, then down. Do 2 sets of 10 each direction. Stop if you feel pain at the outside of your elbow above a 3/10.
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Short on time? Prioritize exercises 1, 3, and 5 — these provide the greatest benefit for your condition.
Prompt 2: Post-Surgical HEP with Precautions
For patients recovering from surgery who need clearly defined restrictions and phase-appropriate exercises.
You are a physical therapy HEP specialist. Create a post-surgical home exercise program that strictly adheres to the surgeon's protocol and precautions. Patient safety is the top priority — every exercise must be clearly within the allowed parameters for this recovery phase.
Surgical details:
- Procedure: [e.g., R total hip arthroplasty, posterior approach]
- Surgery date: [date]
- Current post-op phase: [e.g., Phase 1, weeks 0-6]
- Surgeon's precautions: [e.g., posterior hip precautions — no flexion >90°, no internal rotation, no adduction past midline]
- Weight-bearing status: [e.g., WBAT with rolling walker]
Patient context:
- Age: [e.g., 68]
- Living situation: [e.g., single-story home, lives with spouse who can assist]
- Prior level of function: [e.g., community ambulator, walked 2 miles daily before surgery]
- Current status: [e.g., ambulating 200 ft with walker, independent bed mobility with log-roll technique]
Instructions:
- Provide 6-8 exercises appropriate for the current post-op phase ONLY
- Put precautions in bold at the top of the program with clear "DO NOT" statements
- For each exercise, note the specific range or position limits
- Include sets, reps, and frequency
- Add an "Activities to Avoid" section listing common movements that violate precautions
- Include a "When to Call Your Therapist or Surgeon" section for red flag symptoms
- Write at a 6th-grade reading levelExample Output:
Home Exercise Program — Right Total Hip Replacement
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Phase 1 (Weeks 0-6)
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DO NOT: Bend your hip past 90 degrees. DO NOT cross your right leg over your left. DO NOT twist your right leg inward. These movements can damage your new hip.
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Do these exercises 3 times per day. Walk with your walker as directed.
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1. Ankle Pumps
Lie on your back. Pump your feet up and down like pressing a gas pedal. Do 20 pumps every hour you are awake. Stop if you feel new calf pain or swelling.
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2. Quad Sets
Lie on your back with your legs straight. Press the back of your right knee down into the bed. Hold 5 seconds. Relax. Do 3 sets of 10. Stop if you feel sharp pain in your hip.
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3. Heel Slides
Lie on your back. Slide your right heel toward your buttock, bending your knee. Do not let your hip bend past 90 degrees. Slide back out. Do 3 sets of 10. Stop if you feel a pinch in the front of your hip.
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4. Standing Hip Abduction
Stand holding your walker. Lift your right leg out to the side about 8 inches. Keep your toes pointing forward. Lower slowly. Do 2 sets of 10. Stop if you feel unsteady or have sharp groin pain.
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Activities to Avoid: Bending to tie shoes, crossing your legs, sitting in low chairs or soft couches, picking up objects from the floor, twisting to reach behind you.
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When to Call Your Therapist or Surgeon: New redness, warmth, or drainage at your incision. Fever over 101 degrees. Sudden sharp pain in your hip. Calf pain, swelling, or redness. A fall or a "pop" in your hip.
Prompt 3: Progressive HEP with Phase Milestones
For patients who need a multi-phase program with clear criteria for advancing to the next level.
You are a physical therapy HEP specialist. Create a progressive 3-phase home exercise program with clear advancement criteria between phases. The patient should be able to self-assess when they are ready to move to the next phase based on the milestones you define.
Patient information:
- Diagnosis: [e.g., L ACL reconstruction with hamstring autograft, 4 weeks post-op]
- Current phase: [e.g., beginning Phase 1]
- Long-term goal: [e.g., return to recreational soccer in 9-12 months]
- Current status: [e.g., knee flexion 75°, extension -5°, quad activation present but weak, ambulating with 1 crutch]
Program structure:
Phase 1 — [e.g., Weeks 0-6: Protect graft, restore ROM, activate quad]
Phase 2 — [e.g., Weeks 6-12: Build strength, normalize gait, begin closed-chain loading]
Phase 3 — [e.g., Weeks 12-20: Functional strengthening, balance progression, light sport-specific drills]
Instructions:
- Provide 4-5 exercises per phase
- Define specific, measurable milestone criteria to advance (e.g., "Move to Phase 2 when you can achieve 0° knee extension and flex to 110° without pain")
- Include sets, reps, and frequency for each phase
- Note exercises that carry over between phases with increased intensity
- Add a "Do NOT skip ahead if..." warning for each phase transition
- Write in patient-friendly language with anatomical terms explained in parenthesesExample Output:
Progressive Home Exercise Program — Left ACL Reconstruction
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Phase 1: Protect and Restore (Weeks 0-6)
Do these exercises 2 times per day.
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1. Quad Sets — Sit with your leg straight. Tighten the muscle on top of your thigh (your quadriceps) by pressing your knee flat. Hold 10 seconds, do 3 sets of 15. 2. Heel Slides — Lie on your back. Slide your heel toward your buttock, bending your knee as far as comfortable. Do 3 sets of 15. 3. Straight Leg Raise — Lie on your back, tighten your quad, then lift your entire leg about 12 inches off the bed, keeping the knee straight. Do 3 sets of 10. 4. Prone Hang for Extension — Lie face down with your knee just off the edge of the bed. Let gravity gently straighten your knee. Hold 5 minutes, 2 times per day.
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Move to Phase 2 when: You can fully straighten your knee to 0 degrees and bend it to at least 110 degrees without pain, and you can lift your straight leg without your thigh muscle lagging. Do NOT skip ahead if your knee still swells after exercises or you cannot straighten it fully.
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Phase 2: Build Strength (Weeks 6-12)
Do these exercises once daily, 5 days per week.
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1. Mini Squats — Stand with your back against a wall. Slide down to about 45 degrees of knee bend. Hold 5 seconds, return. Do 3 sets of 12. 2. Step-Ups (6-inch step) — Step up leading with your surgical leg. Do 3 sets of 10. 3. Standing Hamstring Curls — Stand holding a counter. Bend your surgical knee, bringing your heel toward your buttock. Do 3 sets of 12. 4. Heel Slides (continued) — Now work toward 125 degrees of bending. Do 3 sets of 15. 5. Single-Leg Balance — Stand on your surgical leg near a counter. Hold 30 seconds, 5 repetitions.
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Move to Phase 3 when: You can single-leg squat to 60 degrees with good control, walk without a limp, and your knee does not swell after exercise. Do NOT skip ahead if you have pain going down stairs or your knee gives way during single-leg balance.
Prompt 4: Elderly / Fall-Risk Adapted HEP
For older adults where safety, simplicity, and fall prevention are the primary concerns.
You are a physical therapy HEP specialist with expertise in geriatric rehabilitation. Create a home exercise program for an older adult with elevated fall risk. Every exercise must account for safety, balance impairment, and the possibility that the patient may be exercising without supervision.
Patient information:
- Age: [e.g., 79]
- Diagnosis: [e.g., deconditioning after hospitalization for pneumonia, history of 2 falls in past 3 months]
- Balance assessment: [e.g., BBS 36/56, TUG 22 seconds, 30s STS: 4 reps]
- Mobility status: [e.g., ambulates with single-point cane, requires supervision on stairs]
- Cognition: [e.g., intact / mild impairment — keep instructions simple]
- Home setup: [e.g., has sturdy kitchen counter, carpeted floors, no stair requirement for daily routine]
- Caregiver availability: [e.g., spouse present but unable to physically assist]
Instructions:
- Provide 5-6 exercises focused on standing balance, sit-to-stand strength, and safe ambulation
- Every standing exercise MUST include a stable handhold option (e.g., "hold kitchen counter with both hands")
- Use large font-friendly formatting (short sentences, numbered steps)
- Include a "Safety First" section at the top: when to exercise, what to wear on feet, how to set up the space
- Specify a simple daily schedule (e.g., "Do these exercises once each morning after breakfast")
- Add a "Signs to Stop" section with plain-language red flags
- Avoid any exercises performed on the floor — getting down and up is a fall risk for this populationExample Output:
Home Exercise Program — Balance and Strength for Fall Prevention
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Safety First: Do these exercises in the morning after breakfast when you feel most alert. Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes — no socks or slippers. Clear the area of rugs and clutter. Always exercise near your kitchen counter and have your phone within reach.
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Do these exercises once each morning. The full routine takes about 15 minutes.
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1. Seated Marching (Warm-Up)
Sit in a sturdy chair with armrests. Lift your right knee up about 6 inches, then lower it. Repeat with your left knee. Alternate for 1 minute. Stop if you feel dizzy or short of breath.
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2. Sit-to-Stand
Sit at the front edge of your chair with feet flat on the floor. Lean forward, push through your legs, and stand up. Sit back down slowly — take 3 seconds to lower yourself. Do 2 sets of 5. Use armrests for help if needed. Stop if you feel lightheaded on standing.
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3. Counter-Supported Heel Raises
Stand facing your kitchen counter, holding on with both hands. Rise up on your toes, hold 3 seconds, lower slowly. Do 2 sets of 10. Stop if you feel unsteady even with hand support.
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4. Counter-Supported Side Stepping
Stand facing the counter, hands on the surface. Step sideways to the right 5 steps, then 5 steps back to the left. Do 3 rounds. Stop if you feel your balance shifting away from the counter.
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5. Counter-Supported Standing Hip Kick-Backs
Hold the counter with both hands. Slowly kick your right leg straight behind you about 6 inches. Hold 3 seconds, return. Do 2 sets of 10 each leg. Stop if you feel low back pain.
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Signs to Stop Exercising: Chest pain or pressure. Feeling like you might faint. Sudden severe pain anywhere. Feeling much more tired than usual. If any of these happen, sit down immediately and call your doctor or 911.
Prompt 5: Patient Education Handout for Home Management
For creating a combined education and self-management guide that goes beyond exercises.
You are a physical therapy patient education specialist. Create a comprehensive home management handout for a patient with a chronic or recurring condition. This handout should combine education about the condition, self-management strategies, activity modification guidance, and a simple exercise component.
Patient condition:
- Diagnosis: [e.g., chronic low back pain, non-specific, recurring episodes over 5 years]
- Current status: [e.g., in subacute flare, pain 6/10, limited sitting and bending tolerance]
- Aggravating factors: [e.g., prolonged sitting >20 min, bending to pick up objects, morning stiffness]
- Easing factors: [e.g., walking, position changes, heat to low back]
- Patient concerns: [e.g., afraid of re-injury, avoids lifting, worried about imaging findings]
Instructions:
- Begin with a "What's Happening in Your Body" section explaining the condition in plain language (reassuring, evidence-based, avoid catastrophic language)
- Include an "Activity Dos and Don'ts" section with practical modifications (e.g., how to sit at a desk, how to lift safely, sleep positions)
- Provide 3-4 self-management exercises with descriptions and frequency
- Add a "Flare-Up Action Plan" — what to do in the first 24-48 hours of increased symptoms
- Include a "When to Seek Help" section (red flag symptoms in plain language)
- Write at a patient-friendly reading level — no jargon, short paragraphs
- Keep the total handout to approximately one printed page (~500 words)Example Output:
Living Well with Chronic Low Back Pain — Your Home Guide
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What's Happening in Your Body
Your back is strong and resilient. Chronic low back pain usually does not mean something is broken or damaged. In most cases, the muscles, joints, and nerves in your lower back have become sensitized — they send pain signals more easily than they should, even during normal movement. Imaging findings like "disc bulges" or "degeneration" are extremely common in people with no pain at all. Think of them like gray hair — normal changes that happen with age, not signs of damage. Movement is one of the best things you can do for your back.
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Activity Dos and Don'ts
Do: Change positions every 20 minutes when sitting. Stand up, walk around briefly, then sit back down. Do: Bend your knees and keep objects close to your body when lifting. Do: Sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees, or on your back with a pillow under your knees. Don't: Sit in one position for longer than 30 minutes. Don't: Avoid all movement because you are afraid of re-injury — gentle activity is safe and helpful.
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Self-Management Exercises (Do once daily)
1. Pelvic Tilts — Lie on your back, knees bent. Gently flatten your low back into the floor. Hold 5 seconds, relax. Do 10 reps. 2. Cat-Cow Stretch — On hands and knees, slowly arch your back up, then let it sag down. Repeat 10 times. 3. Supported Standing Extension — Stand with your hands on your low back. Gently lean backward. Hold 3 seconds. Repeat 5 times. 4. Walking — Walk at a comfortable pace for 10-15 minutes daily. Increase by 2-3 minutes per week.
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Flare-Up Action Plan: Apply heat to your low back for 15 minutes. Take a short walk — even 5 minutes helps. Avoid bed rest beyond 30 minutes. Use your pelvic tilts and cat-cow stretches gently. Most flare-ups calm down within 2-5 days with continued gentle movement.
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When to Seek Help: Numbness or weakness in both legs. Loss of bowel or bladder control. Pain after a serious fall or accident. Unexplained weight loss with increasing pain.