Which patient response is essential to document during therapy?

Documenting the patient's pain level and mobility changes is essential during therapy because these metrics are critical for assessing a patient's progress, tailoring treatment interventions, and ensuring patient safety. Changes in pain levels can provide immediate feedback on the effectiveness of treatment techniques and may require adjustments in the therapeutic approach. Additionally, tracking mobility changes is vital for determining the patient's rehabilitation progress and overall functional improvement. Documenting these responses helps establish clear goals, facilitates communication among healthcare providers, and supports clinical decision-making.

In contrast, while personal preferences, emotional states, and previous therapy experiences can provide valuable context for treatment and contribute to understanding the patient's overall experience, they do not have the same direct, measurable impact on immediate treatment adjustments and outcomes as pain levels and mobility changes do. Thus, while important, these factors are secondary in the priority of documentation during therapy sessions.