Physiotherapist interview questions and answers

I start with the subjective history: where the pain is, how it started, what makes it better or worse, how it behaves over the day, and how it affects work and sleep. I screen for red flags such as bladder or bowel changes, numbness in the saddle area, unexplained weight loss, fever or a history of cancer. Then I do the objective exam: posture, range of movement, neurological tests if there are leg symptoms, and functional tests like sit to stand. I record a baseline pain score and a disability questionnaire, explain my findings and agree goals with the patient.

I stop and refer if I see signs that suggest something serious: new bladder or bowel problems or saddle numbness with back pain, progressive weakness in the legs, unexplained weight loss, night pain that does not change with position, fever with spinal pain, or signs of a clot like a hot, swollen, painful calf. Chest pain or severe breathlessness during exercise also means I stop and get medical help. I explain to the patient why I am referring, call or write to the doctor the same day, and document what I found. For suspected cauda equina, I tell them to go to emergency immediately.

I always start from the surgeon’s protocol, because graft type and any meniscus repair change the early restrictions. Early goals are controlling swelling, getting full knee extension and quadriceps activation. I progress through phases based on criteria, not just weeks: for example, no swelling and good quad control before starting running. Later we work on strength, balance, hopping and sport-specific drills. Before return to sport, I use strength and hop tests comparing both legs and discuss the results with the surgeon. With a college footballer last year, this criteria-based approach meant he returned slightly later but confident.

Before any mobilisation I check with the ICU doctor and nurse that the patient is stable enough and there are no restrictions. I review the vitals, oxygen requirement, sedation level and recent changes, and I check all lines, drains and the tube so nothing is pulled. I start with what the patient can tolerate: bed exercises, sitting at the edge of the bed, then standing with support. A nurse stays with me for anyone on a ventilator. I watch heart rate, blood pressure, saturation and the patient’s face throughout and stop if they become unstable. I document tolerance and the plan for the next session.

I ask the patient what they want to be able to do again, in their own words. For a retired teacher with knee arthritis, it was climbing the stairs to her first-floor flat without stopping and walking to the temple. I turn that into specific, measurable goals with a time frame, for example climbing fifteen steps with one rail in four weeks. I also set short-term goals, such as improving knee bend or standing balance, that lead to it. We review goals every two weeks, and seeing progress on something that matters to them keeps patients coming back.

I start with a falls history and assessment: timed up and go, a balance test, leg strength, walking pattern, footwear, eyesight and any medicines that cause dizziness, which I flag to the doctor. I also ask about the home: lighting, loose rugs, bathroom grab bars. The exercise plan focuses on leg strength and balance, progressed gradually, for example from standing with support to standing on one leg holding the counter. I teach them how to get up from the floor safely. I involve family, give a simple printed home programme and review progress with the same tests.

First I take it seriously and ask details: where exactly, how long it lasted, whether it is the same pain or new, and whether there is swelling, numbness or weakness. Mild soreness that settles within a day or two after new exercise is common, and I explain that. If it lasted longer or is different, I reassess and look at what we did, perhaps too many repetitions or too much load. I reduce the dose and progress more slowly. If there are new neurological signs or anything that suggests a different problem, I refer back to the doctor.

I keep the home programme short, usually three or four exercises that fit into ten minutes, because long lists get ignored. I teach each exercise in the session, watch the patient do it, and then send a short video or picture sheet on their phone. I link each exercise to their goal so they see why it matters. I ask when in their day they will do it, like after morning tea. At the next session I check how many days they managed without judging them. For a busy software engineer with neck pain, fitting exercises into his work breaks made the difference.

In the early phase I work closely with the medical team to confirm the patient is stable. I focus on correct positioning in bed and chair to protect the weak shoulder, sitting balance and early, safe mobility. I use task-specific practice, such as sit to stand and reaching, rather than only passive movements, because repetition of real tasks drives recovery. I teach the family how to position and transfer the patient safely. I work with the occupational therapist and speech therapist and share goals at the weekly team meeting. I measure progress using standard balance and mobility scales.

I use electrotherapy as an add-on, for example TENS for short-term pain relief so a patient can exercise, or muscle stimulation to help activate a weak quadriceps after surgery. It should not replace exercise and education. Before using any modality I check for contraindications, such as a pacemaker, active cancer in the area, reduced skin sensation, broken skin, or use over a pregnant abdomen. I do a sensation test, explain what the patient will feel, check the skin afterwards and document the settings and response. If there is no clear benefit after a few sessions, I stop it.

I record baseline measures in the first session and repeat them at planned reviews. These include a pain scale, range of movement with a goniometer, strength with manual muscle testing, and a functional test relevant to the goal, like timed up and go or a single-leg balance time. I also use a validated questionnaire for the condition, such as a neck or knee disability index. If the numbers are not improving after a few sessions, I change the plan or discuss it with my senior. Clear measures also help me show progress to the patient and the referring doctor.

I treated a forty-year-old bank employee for shoulder pain with standard rotator cuff exercises for four weeks, but her scores barely changed. I reassessed and noticed her neck movements reproduced the pain, which I had not tested thoroughly at first. I discussed the case with my senior, added neck assessment and treatment, and adjusted her desk setup. Within three weeks her pain and function improved. It taught me to reassess fully when progress stalls instead of assuming the first diagnosis was right.

On the orthopaedic ward, a patient after hip replacement kept getting dizzy on standing, so I could not progress walking. I recorded blood pressure lying and standing, which showed a clear drop, and informed the orthopaedic resident with the readings. He reviewed her medicines and fluids with the physician. Meanwhile I adjusted sessions to sitting exercises and slow position changes. Two days later she was walking with a frame. Sharing objective findings quickly helped the team solve the real problem instead of labelling her as not motivated.

During my internship I treated a young man after a road accident who kept missing sessions and refused to do exercises. I sat with him and asked about his life. He was worried about losing his job as a delivery rider and felt the exercises were pointless. I linked each exercise to riding his bike again, set a small goal of climbing the hospital stairs within two weeks, and showed him his measured progress. He started attending regularly and asked for extra exercises. I learned that motivation often improves when patients see a clear link to their own life.

In my hospital OPD, one senior was on leave for two weeks and I had nearly double my usual patient load. I grouped patients with similar conditions, such as knee arthritis, into small supervised exercise classes, while seeing new assessments and complex cases one to one. I kept a short checklist so each patient’s review measures were still recorded. I asked our department head to limit new referrals slightly for that period. Waiting times stayed reasonable, and several patients actually liked the group sessions, so we kept a knee class running afterwards.

The family of a seventy-year-old man after a severe stroke expected him to walk independently within a month. I met them with the doctor, explained where he was now, what gains were likely in the coming weeks, and that recovery would be slow and might not be complete. I avoided giving exact dates. We agreed on near-term goals like sitting and standing with help, and I taught the family to practise transfers with him. They were disappointed at first but became very involved, and he went home walking short distances with a walker and one person’s help.

I noticed many of my patients with chronic back pain were not improving with manual therapy alone. I took a course on pain science education and graded exercise. I started explaining pain in simple terms, using examples from their daily lives, and building activity step by step. For one IT professional with long-standing back pain, understanding his pain reduced his fear of bending, and he returned to playing badminton over three months. I also shared the key ideas with my team at our weekly meeting.

Yes. I have done home visits for about a year, mainly for elderly and post-surgery patients. I plan my route to keep travel time down, carry a portable kit with resistance bands, a BP monitor and a pulse oximeter, and I always share my visit schedule with the office. In homes I adapt exercises to the space and furniture they have. I would like to know the expected number of visits per day and whether travel is reimbursed, so I can plan realistically and give each patient a full session.

Your centre treats a mix of neurological, orthopaedic and sports patients and has a team of senior physiotherapists who guide freshers. That variety is what I want in my first job, so I can find the area I want to specialise in. I saw that you hold weekly case discussions, which will help me learn faster. During my internship I enjoyed neuro rehab the most, and your stroke rehab programme is well regarded in the city. I want to build strong basics here and grow with the team.

As a fresher with a BPT and a six-month internship at a multi-specialty hospital, I am expecting a salary in line with what rehab centres in this city offer freshers. I am more focused on learning and supervision in my first year than on the exact number, but I would like the salary to be reviewed after six months based on my performance. I can join within a week of receiving the offer letter, since I am not currently employed.