Patient Instructions (OMT Aftercare and Home Exercise Program)

Patient Name: [Patient name]

Date of Visit: [Date]

Clinic: [Clinic name]

Provider: [Provider name and credentials]

Phone for Questions: [Clinic phone number]

After-Hours/Urgent Contact: [After-hours phone or instructions]

Today's Visit

(Include this section only if treatment was performed. Omit entirely if no treatment.)

• [Reason for visit in one short line]
• [Areas treated in plain words, e.g., neck, upper back, low back, pelvis, ribs, shoulder, hip]
• [Main focus today: reduce muscle tightness / improve range of motion / calm irritated joints / improve posture / improve breathing mechanics / improve movement control]
• [Functional goal in simple terms] (Only include if discussed.)

After Your Treatment

It is normal to feel mild soreness or achiness in the treated areas. You may feel tired or looser than usual. This should improve over 24 to 72 hours. Your symptoms should trend toward better, not worse.

For the next 1–3 days:

• Keep moving. Take short walks as you can. Move gently through your normal range.
• [Activity to limit or avoid] for [timeframe]. (Only include if discussed.)
• Ice: Place a cold pack on [location] for [duration] at a time, [frequency]. Use a towel between your skin and the ice. (Only include if recommended.)
• Heat: Apply gentle heat to [location] for [duration] at a time, [frequency]. Use a low to medium setting. (Only include if recommended.)
• [Sleep or positioning tip in plain words] (Only include if discussed.)
• You may take [medication name and dose] for [purpose], only if it is safe for you. Check with us first if you have kidney problems, stomach ulcers, take blood thinners, or are pregnant. (Only include if explicitly recommended.)

Home Exercises

(Include this section only if exercises were prescribed. Omit entirely if none were given.)

Goal: [Exercise program goal in plain words, e.g., reduce stiffness, improve core stability, improve posture]

Stop rules: Stop and contact the clinic if exercises cause worsening numbness, tingling, weakness, dizziness, chest pain, or severe headache. Stop if pain sharply increases or does not settle after you stop.

[Exercise 1 name]

Purpose: [One-line purpose in plain words]

Steps:

• [Step 1]
• [Step 2]
• [Step 3]
• [Additional steps as needed, up to 6 total]

Dose: [Sets × reps or duration]. [Frequency, e.g., 1–2 times per day].

Modification: [How to make it easier or safer, e.g., smaller range, seated version, use a pillow] (Only include if discussed.)

Progression: [How to advance the exercise] (Only include if explicitly discussed.)

[Exercise 2 name]

(Repeat this block for each prescribed exercise. Remove unused blocks.)

Purpose: [One-line purpose in plain words]

Steps:

• [Step 1]
• [Step 2]
• [Step 3]

Dose: [Sets × reps or duration]. [Frequency].

Modification: [Modification] (Only include if discussed.)

Progression: [Progression] (Only include if explicitly discussed.)

When to Seek Care

Call us (non-urgent): Call [Clinic phone number] if you have soreness lasting longer than expected, questions about your exercises, or a mild flare that is slowly improving.

Go to urgent care or the emergency department:

• Pain that keeps getting worse and does not ease with rest
• Fever with severe back pain
• New or worsening weakness
• New numbness in the groin or saddle area
• New loss of bowel or bladder control
• New or worsening trouble walking

Call 911:

• Chest pain, trouble breathing, or fainting
• Signs of stroke: sudden facial droop, arm weakness, slurred speech, sudden severe headache, or sudden vision or balance problems

(If cervical spine was treated with high-velocity thrust technique, include this warning:) After neck treatment: Call 911 right away if you notice sudden severe headache, new dizziness, trouble speaking, trouble walking, double vision, or new weakness.

Follow-Up

Next visit: [Follow-up date and time, or timeframe such as "in 1–2 weeks"]

By then, you should notice [expected improvement in functional terms, e.g., less stiffness, easier movement during daily activities].

If you are not improving—or if things are getting worse—call us at [Clinic phone number] to check in or move up your visit.