Physiotherapist Interview Questions

"I got interested after tearing a hamstring playing football at school. The physio I saw didn't just treat it, she explained what was happening and gave me a plan I could follow, and that stuck with me. During my degree I did placements in a hospital ward, a neuro unit and an outpatient clinic. The one I enjoyed most was outpatient musculoskeletal work, because I like the detective side of assessment and seeing someone go from guarding every movement to trusting their body again. I also learned a lot on the neuro placement about patience and small gains. So I'm looking for a role where I see a steady mix of back pain, sports injuries and post-surgery rehab, with seniors around me to learn from."

"From what I read and from talking to one of your team, this is a busy community rehab service, mostly older adults after a fall or a hospital stay, plus some post-surgery knee and hip patients. That means a lot of home visits, balance and strength work, and working closely with occupational therapists and nurses. It appeals to me because I like seeing people in their own homes, where you can set goals around the things they actually do, like getting to the kitchen or the front door. On my last placement I did home visits for a falls team, so I'm used to adapting exercises to small spaces and to people who are anxious about moving. I'd like to grow my skills in frailty and falls here."

"I think my supervisor would say my strength is explaining things to patients. On placement I had an older man who was scared his back pain meant his spine was crumbling, and after I walked him through what his scan did and didn't mean, he started walking daily again. The thing she'd want me to work on is my handling confidence with manual techniques on bigger or very stiff patients. I tended to be too gentle and then second-guess myself. Since then I've asked to shadow seniors, practised with colleagues after work and asked for feedback on my hand placement. I'm more confident now, but I still ask for a second opinion when I'm unsure."

"I had a patient with shoulder pain who I'd treated as a rotator cuff problem. After four sessions her pain score and her reach behind her back hadn't moved at all. Instead of just adding more exercises, I did a full reassessment. I found her passive range was now quite restricted, especially external rotation, which didn't fit my first thinking, and she mentioned night pain. I discussed it with a senior, and we felt it looked more like an early frozen shoulder. I changed the plan to pain control, gentler range work and a lot more education about the likely time course, and I let her doctor know. Her sleep improved first, and over the next weeks her range started to come back. It taught me to reassess properly rather than keep pushing a plan."

"One patient was a man in his seventies admitted after a stroke, who also had heart failure and diabetes with poor sensation in his feet. His goal was to get home to his wife. The problems pulled against each other: he needed lots of practice to relearn walking, but he got breathless quickly and his feet were at risk of skin damage. I ranked safety first, so I agreed limits on exertion with the medical team and checked his observations before and after sessions. Then I broke practice into short, frequent bursts through the day instead of one long session, and involved the nurses and his wife in standing practice. The OT and I planned the home setup together. He went home walking short distances with a frame and a clear home program."

"First I'd take it seriously and get the detail: how bad, how long it lasted, where it was, and whether anything new showed up, like pins and needles, weakness or night pain. If there's something new or worrying, I reassess properly and refer if needed. If it sounds like a flare, sore for a day or two and settling back to their usual, I'd say that's common when we start loading tissue that isn't used to it, and it doesn't mean damage. But it tells me I pushed a bit too far. So I'd reduce the dose, fewer reps or a smaller range, and agree on a simple rule, like soreness that settles by the next day is fine, but if it's worse than that we pull back. I'd also give them a plan for handling a flare themselves."

"I start by asking what they want to get back to, and I push for something specific. Not 'less pain', but maybe 'walk my dog round the park' or 'lift my grandchild'. Then I turn that into a goal we can measure, with a time frame, using the SMART idea: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. So it might be walking twenty minutes without stopping within six weeks. I usually set a short-term goal too, so they feel progress early. Then every part of my plan should link to a goal, like strength and walking endurance for the dog walk. I write the goals down, share them with the patient and review them at set points, and if we're off track, I change the plan or the goal."

"A patient was referred to me for exercises for knee pain, but on assessment the knee was hot, swollen and very painful, and he said he'd felt feverish. That didn't fit a simple exercise referral and made me worried about infection or an inflammatory flare. I didn't start the program. I called the referring doctor that day and said something like, I've seen your patient and I'm concerned about these findings, would you be able to review him before we start loading the knee. I gave the temperature, the swelling and what he'd told me. The doctor agreed and saw him that afternoon. I wrote down exactly what I found and who I spoke to. The relationship was fine, because I came with findings, not criticism."

"On a ward during winter, two colleagues were off sick and I had nearly twice my usual list. I sorted patients by risk first: new post-operative patients who needed to get moving, anyone with a chest that needed clearing, and people waiting for us before they could go home. Stable patients on maintenance programs could safely wait a day or be seen by our assistant with a clear plan. I told my team lead early in the morning what I could and couldn't cover, so it wasn't a surprise at five o'clock. I documented who wasn't seen and why, and handed that over for the next day. Nobody unsafe was missed, and the lead used my list to ask for cover from another ward."

"I'd sit down with the family and the patient and first ask why tomorrow matters, because there's often a good reason, like a carer who's only free then. Then I'd explain what I actually saw: he needs two people to manage stairs and his knee gave way twice today. I wouldn't just say no. I'd bring it to the team so we can look at options: a bed downstairs for now, a second rail, more help from carers, or a few more days of practice with a clear target. If he has capacity and still chooses to go, that's his right, so I'd make sure the risks are explained, the safest plan is in place and everything is documented. My job is to make home as safe as possible, not to block it."

"I think the patient should hear one plan, not five. So I try to keep everyone updated in a short, clear way, like telling the nurse this patient can now walk to the toilet with a frame and one person, rather than 'mobility improved'. I go to team meetings with numbers and a clear view on discharge. I agree goals with the OT and speech therapist, so we're not pulling the patient in different directions. With doctors, I lead with findings and what I need from them. I also rely on others: nurses see patients far more than I do, so if I teach them one exercise or transfer, the patient gets practice all day. And I ask early when something's outside my knowledge."

"I saw a woman referred for mid-back pain. When I went through my screening questions, she mentioned she'd lost weight without trying over a few months and the pain was worse at night, not eased by any position. She also had a history of breast cancer years earlier. None of that was in the referral. I didn't treat her that day. I explained calmly that some of her answers meant I wanted her doctor to check her before we started, and I phoned the practice while she was with me and got her an urgent appointment. I sent a written summary too. She was later found to have a spread of the cancer to the spine. It reinforced why I never skip the red flag questions, even on a busy day."

"That picture after joint surgery makes me think of a deep vein thrombosis. Some swelling is normal after a knee replacement, so I can't rule a clot in or out by looking, and that's exactly why it needs a doctor. I'd stop the session, get the patient settled, and not massage or work that leg. I'd compare the other calf, ask about breathlessness or chest pain, and take basic observations. Then I'd tell the nurse in charge and the medical team straight away, not at the end of my shift, so they can assess and arrange tests. If the patient had sudden breathlessness, chest pain or a racing heart, I'd treat it as a possible clot in the lungs and call for emergency help. I'd document what I found and who I told, and restart rehab when the doctors say it's safe."

"First, safety. The moment they go pale and dizzy, I'd get them sitting or lying back down, and never try to walk them through it. Then I'd check blood pressure and heart rate lying, then sitting, then standing if it's safe. A drop of about 20 in the top number or 10 in the bottom number within three minutes of standing is the usual sign of low blood pressure on standing. That can come from dehydration, blood loss after surgery, long bed rest or new medicines. I'd share the readings with the nurse and doctor so they can look at fluids, bloods and medication. Meanwhile I'd adapt: sitting on the edge of the bed for a while first, ankle pumps before standing, and short, gradual stands with two people and a chair behind. I'd document every reading."

"Numbness around the groin and bottom plus a change in bladder function, with back pain, can mean pressure on the bundle of nerve roots below the end of the spinal cord, called cauda equina syndrome. It's a surgical emergency, because delay can mean permanent loss of bladder, bowel or sexual function. So I wouldn't book them in or wait to see them. I'd tell them clearly to go to the emergency department now, not to drive themselves, and to take someone with them if they can. I'd explain why in calm, plain words, so they don't brush it off. I'd ask a couple of quick questions about bowel control and both legs, but I wouldn't hold them on the phone long. Then I'd document the call and let their doctor know."

"I always screen first, and I follow the local policy, because the lists of what's an outright no and what's just a caution vary a bit between countries and services. For both, I check skin and sensation, because if they can't feel properly they can't warn me if something's wrong, and I avoid the abdomen in pregnancy. For ultrasound, I wouldn't treat over a known or suspected tumour, a suspected clot, active bleeding or infection, the eyes or the reproductive organs, and I'm careful over growing bones in children. For TENS, a pacemaker or other implanted electrical device is the big one, so I'd check with the cardiology team or not use it. I avoid the front of the neck, the eyes and broken skin, and I'm careful with epilepsy and with people who can't give feedback. Cancer is more of a caution with TENS, since it's sometimes used for pain in palliative care."

"Early on, I relied a lot on machines like ultrasound and TENS for people with long-term low back pain, because patients liked them. Then our team went through the current back pain guidelines in a journal club, and the message was clear: education, staying active and exercise should be the core, and treatments like those on their own aren't recommended. I also learned about screening for fear and worry, since they help show who's likely to struggle. So I changed my first sessions to spend more time explaining pain, setting activity goals and starting exercise early, with hands-on work only as a support. Patients took more ownership, and I found fewer people coming back for months of the same treatment."

"For me, evidence-based practice means combining the best research I can find with my own clinical experience and what the patient wants. So I don't just read. I try to pick one question from my caseload each month, like what's best for tendon pain, and look for a recent guideline or good review. I keep notes, reflect on cases, and use supervision to talk through ones that didn't go well. I also do a couple of courses a year, chosen for gaps I've noticed. To share, I've presented at our journal club and once turned a guideline into a one-page summary for the team. I like the journal club because it makes us agree on changes together rather than everyone doing their own thing."

"A daughter complained that her mother, after a hip fracture, was only getting short sessions and felt we'd given up on her. I asked to speak with her somewhere quiet and mostly listened first. Her real worry was that her mother wouldn't manage at home. I explained that her mother tired quickly, so we were doing shorter sessions more often, and showed her the progress we'd recorded, like the distance she could walk. I also admitted we hadn't explained the plan to the family well. After that I invited her to a session so she could see the exercises and help with practice at visiting time. She became one of our biggest helpers, and I now make sure families hear the plan early."

"First I'd thank them for being honest, because a patient who admits it is easier to help than one who pretends. Then I'd ask what got in the way, without any telling off. Often it's time, or the exercises hurt, or they didn't really see how five leg lifts connect to getting back to work. Then I'd fix whatever the barrier is. I'd cut the program down to two or three exercises, tie them to something they already do, like doing sit-to-stands during the TV adverts, and link each one to their goal. I'd check they can do them correctly in front of me and agree on a simple way to track it, like ticking a sheet. Next time I'd ask about it first."

"I'd start by asking why, because there's usually a reason. Maybe a past therapist did that and they felt better for a day, or they're scared exercise will hurt. Then I'd be honest in simple terms: hands-on treatment can ease pain for a short while, but what keeps it better is the body getting stronger and more confident moving. I might say, the massage can open the door, but the exercises are what help you walk through it. I'd offer a mix, some hands-on work to settle things, then one or two gentle exercises that feel easy, so they see it doesn't flare them up. Over a few sessions I'd shift the balance toward active work, and track something they care about, like sleep or walking distance."

"I keep it short, usually two to four exercises, because a long sheet is the one that ends up in a drawer. Each one links to their goal, and I tell them why, like this one helps you get up from the sofa without using your hands. I teach it and then watch them do it, correcting until they're confident, and give them clear pictures or let them film it on their phone. I set a clear dose, how many, how often, and what level of discomfort is okay. I also ask about their day to find when it fits, like after brushing teeth. At the next session I check how it went and progress it, so it stays challenging but doable."

"I start with consent and an introduction, then the subjective part. I ask what the main problem is, how and when it started, what makes it better or worse, and how it behaves over the day. I go through their medical history and medicines, screen for red flags, and ask about work, activity and what they want to get back to. That gives me a few hypotheses before I touch them. In the objective part I observe posture and movement, test active and passive range, strength, and neurological tests if nerves could be involved, then special tests to confirm or rule out my ideas, plus a functional task that matters to them. Finally I explain what I think is going on, agree goals and start treatment, often with a first exercise."

"I pick measures that fit the patient and their goal. For pain I use a simple zero to ten rating. For back pain, a disability questionnaire like the Oswestry. For older adults and balance, the Timed Up and Go and the Berg Balance Scale. I also like the patient-specific functional scale, where the patient names activities they struggle with and scores them, because it ties straight to their goals. I record them at the first session and at planned reviews. The point is what I do with them. If scores aren't moving after a few weeks, that tells me to reassess or refer. If they've improved a lot, I can progress faster or plan discharge. It also helps show patients and doctors real progress."

"First I'd screen for red flags, things like significant trauma, unexplained weight loss, a history of cancer, fever, or bladder and bowel changes, because those need a different route. Then I'd look for yellow flags, like fear of movement or worry about serious damage, since those predict who's likely to struggle. For most people the core is education and reassurance: back pain is common, it usually settles, and a scan rarely changes treatment. I'd encourage staying active and at work if possible, with sensible changes. Then I'd give exercise they can do and enjoy, building up gradually. Hands-on treatment can help settle pain, but only alongside exercise, not instead of it. I'd agree clear goals and a plan for flare-ups."

"In the first days, I'd check the surgeon's instructions, then focus on pain and swelling control, early walking with an aid, and getting the thigh muscle working with static quads and straight leg raises. A big early priority is getting the knee fully straight, because a knee that stays slightly bent makes walking harder. So I'd advise against resting with a pillow under the knee; if they want the leg raised, the support goes under the calf and heel so the knee can still straighten. Then I'd work on bend, through heel slides and cycling once it's allowed. Before home they need safe transfers, walking and stairs. Over the next weeks I'd build strength, balance and endurance toward their goals, and watch for a hot, red or oozing wound, calf swelling or new breathlessness."

"After a stroke the brain can reorganise, but it needs a lot of practice at real tasks, so my rehab is built around that. I assess movement, sensation, tone, balance, and also cognition and communication, because they change how I teach. Then I set goals around what the person wants back, like standing to wash or walking to the toilet, and practise those tasks directly, many times, rather than only doing isolated exercises. I try to get more repetitions into the day by involving nurses, family and self-practice. I protect the weak shoulder, so no pulling on that arm during transfers, and support it in sitting. I watch for fatigue, low mood and falls risk. And I work closely with OT and speech therapy so we reinforce each other."

"I don't clear anyone on time alone, although time still matters, because the graft needs to mature and going back too early is linked with more re-injuries. I want a quiet knee with full range and no swelling after training. Then strength: I test quadriceps and hamstrings against the other leg, and I want them close to equal. Next, hop tests and landing and cutting drills, where I look at movement quality, not just distance, including when they're tired. I also check their confidence, because an athlete who's scared of the knee moves differently and may not be ready. The return itself is graded: sport drills on their own, then non-contact team training, then full contact training, then matches, agreed with the surgeon and coach."

"I'd start with the falls themselves: what they were doing, whether they tripped or felt dizzy or blacked out, how long they were on the floor and any injuries. I'd ask about medicines, eyesight, continence, footwear, home layout and whether they're now scared to move. Any blackouts or dizziness I'd flag to their doctor, and a medicine review too. Then I'd test gait, balance and leg strength, with things like the Timed Up and Go and a sit-to-stand test. The main treatment is progressive strength and balance exercise, done regularly over months, not a few weeks. I'd work with the OT on home hazards and equipment, teach them how to get up from the floor or call for help, and address fear of falling so they keep moving."

"I use a SOAP structure. Subjective is what the patient tells me, including their pain and goals. Objective is what I measure, with actual numbers, like range in degrees or a walking time. Assessment is my clinical reasoning, what I think is going on and whether they're improving. Plan is what happens next. I also record consent, exactly what treatment I gave, the advice and home exercises, how they responded, and any risks we discussed. I write it the same day, keep it factual and only use approved abbreviations. It matters because another physio should be able to pick up the patient tomorrow and carry on safely. It's also a legal record, so if it isn't written down, it's hard to show it happened."