Physiotherapist Interview Questions

1.1The physiotherapist role - the scope of practice, the patient populations, and the settings

1.2HCPC standards of proficiency - the professional and ethical standards every physiotherapist must meet

1.3Evidence-based practice - how physiotherapists find, evaluate, and apply the research evidence

1.4The physiotherapist in the multidisciplinary team - working with doctors, nurses, and other AHPs

2.1Subjective assessment - history taking, the ICF framework, and understanding the whole patient

2.2Objective assessment - observation, palpation, movement testing, and clinical measures

2.3Clinical reasoning - the process of forming a diagnosis and management plan in physiotherapy

2.4Outcome measures - selecting, using, and interpreting validated outcome measures in clinical practice

3.1MSK assessment - spine, upper and lower limb assessment, and identifying pathology

3.2Manual therapy - joint mobilisation, manipulation, soft tissue techniques, and the evidence behind them

3.3Exercise therapy - therapeutic exercise prescription, progression, and rehabilitation principles

3.4MSK conditions - the common presentations, their management, and the physiotherapy approach

4.1Neurological assessment - the neurological examination adapted for physiotherapy practice

4.2Stroke rehabilitation - the evidence, the approach, and the physiotherapist role in recovery

4.3Parkinson's and neurodegenerative conditions - physiotherapy management and functional goals

4.4Spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury - specialist rehabilitation and the physiotherapy contribution

5.1Respiratory assessment - auscultation, spirometry, and interpreting respiratory data

5.2Airway clearance techniques - active cycle of breathing, autogenic drainage, and percussion

5.3Cardiac rehabilitation - the exercise prescription, monitoring, and the physiotherapist role

5.4ICU physiotherapy - ventilated patients, early mobilisation, and the critical care specialist

6.1Paediatric physiotherapy - development, common presentations, and the family-centred approach

6.2Cerebral palsy and developmental conditions - physiotherapy management across the lifespan

6.3Elderly patients and falls - assessment, rehabilitation, and falls prevention programmes

6.4Frailty - identifying and rehabilitating the frail older patient for independence and quality of life

7.1Pain science - the biopsychosocial model of pain and how it informs physiotherapy practice

7.2Persistent pain management - the physiotherapy approach to chronic pain rehabilitation

7.3Pain education - explaining pain science to patients and empowering self-management

7.4Multidisciplinary pain management - the physiotherapist role in pain management programmes

8.1Sports injury assessment - acute and chronic sports injuries and the assessment process

8.2Sports rehabilitation - return to sport protocols, load management, and injury prevention

8.3Biomechanics and movement analysis - assessing and correcting movement to prevent injury

8.4Working with athletes - the sports physiotherapist role and working in a high-performance environment

9.1Clinical leadership in physiotherapy - band progression, team leadership, and service improvement

9.2Service development - identifying need, building the evidence base, and establishing new services

9.3Research and audit in physiotherapy - contributing to the evidence base and service improvement

9.4Supervision and mentorship - supporting junior physiotherapists and students in clinical practice

10.1Clinical questions - assessment, reasoning, specific specialties, and evidence-based management

10.2Values and ethics questions - HCPC standards, patient autonomy, and professional boundaries

10.3Scenario questions - managing a clinical complexity, a safeguarding concern, or a multidisciplinary challenge

10.4Salary negotiation, evaluating a physiotherapy service, and questions that reveal the caseload, supervision, and development opportunities