In a SOAP note, which section would include home care exercises, stretches, and patient goals?

• A. Plan
• B. Assessment
• C. Subjective
• D. Objective

Answer: (B)

The main concept is that the Plan section of a SOAP note specifies what will be done next to manage the patient and what goals are targeted. Home care exercises and stretches are part of the ongoing treatment plan you’re prescribing for the patient to do between visits, along with any instructions on how to perform them, frequency, and safety considerations. Patient goals—such as reducing pain, restoring range of motion, or improving function—are set here to give a clear target for progress and a basis for future follow-up.

This is distinct from other sections: the Subjective captures the patient’s reported symptoms and history, the Objective lists measurable findings from the exam, and the Assessment conveys the clinician’s diagnosis or impression based on the data collected. Therefore, detailing the home program and goals belongs in the Plan, since it outlines the intended course of care and expected outcomes.