5 Proven Ways to Improve Patient Compliance with Home Exercise Programs

You can give the best treatment in the world — but if your patients aren’t doing their home exercises, outcomes suffer. So how do we actually get patients to follow through?

Here are five strategies that top physical therapists are using right now with tools like Recover Reel to boost HEP compliance.

Why Patient Compliance Still Matters

Research shows that adherence to home programs is directly tied to recovery speed, re-injury risk, and long-term outcomes. Yet studies also show as few as 35% of patients actually follow through.

Let’s fix that.

1. Use Clear, Custom Exercise Videos

Forget generic demo videos. If your patients can’t see you doing their program with your cues, confusion and disengagement follow. With Recover Reel, therapists can upload their own exercise videos in seconds — clear, personal, and spot-on.

2. Set Realistic Dosages and Expectations

Don’t overload your patients with 10+ exercises. Keep it lean — 3 to 5 targeted movements, with clear instructions on sets, reps, and tempo. Our app lets you update dosage fast, so patients stay challenged but not overwhelmed.

3. Automate Follow-Up and Reminders

Consistency comes from habits — and habits come from nudges. Push notifications, daily check-ins, and calendar reminders keep patients from ghosting their own recovery.

4. Enable Two-Way Communication

When a patient isn’t sure if they’re doing something right, you don’t want them guessing. Recover Reel’s HIPAA-safe messaging lets them ask quick questions and stay connected between visits — without sharing your personal number.

5. Track Progress Visually

Seeing progress keeps people motivated. Use built-in progress tracking or upload weekly test/retest videos so patients can see their improvements, not just feel them.

The Bottom Line: Simplicity = Consistency

The more intuitive your HEP delivery system is, the better your patients will do. That’s why clinicians using Recover Reel report significantly improved compliance — and better outcomes, faster. Start your free trial today and make HEP compliance a no-brainer.