New case studies are released frequently, each challenging a different aspect of clinical reasoning.

Mentor input is added to popular cases around one month later, available to registered members (click here to join).

To stay up to date, join us on Facebook and we’ll post new cases and mentor input as they’re released.

case study of insidious onset ankle pain

Case study: Insidious onset ankle pain [10min read]

Background - Ankle pain This case study of an insidious onset anteromedial ankle pain is designed to challenge Physiotherapist's ability to plan a structured ...
achilles pain

Case study: Achilles pain in a recreational runner [10min read]

Background - Achilles pain This case study presents a recreational runner with unilateral Achilles pain. It covers the diagnosis of posterior ankle and heel ...
case study on midfoot pain

Case study: Midfoot pain in a teenager [15min read]

Background - Midfoot pain This case study examines a sudden onset of midfoot pain in a female teenager with difficulty returning to full weight ...
posterior pelvic pain

Case study: Posterior pelvic pain in a young female adult [15min read]

Background - Posterior pelvic pain This case presents diagnostic difficulties relating to insidious onset posterior pelvic pain. It tests knowledge of musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal ...
traumatic acute knee injury

Case study: Traumatic/acute knee injury [15min read]

Background This acute knee injury case study focuses on the validity and reliability of Physiotherapy physical examination and special test of the knee. We ...
shin pain

Case study: Shin pain in a runner [15min read]

Background - Shin pain This shin pain case study examines diagnostic reasoning including imaging options, interpreting functional tests and causative biomechanics for running injuries ...

How to utilise Physiotherapy case studies

A case study will present an injury or condition along with some context or background information.

As Physiotherapists are well aware, no injury is as simple as the text book presentation and a patient’s situation, background and motivations must be taken into account for successful management of the case.

The world’s best rehab program is worth nothing in the hands of the world’s least motivated patient…

Each of these cases presents a different challenge – it’s not as simple as guessing the correct diagnosis, or going with your standard approach to ankle assessment.

The cases will offer slightly different challenges, from designing a successful management plan without a firm diagnosis, to considering an injury in the context of other physiological factors such as adolescent growth.

Case studies are not the resource to use to memorise different presentations and diagnoses. You could do that by reading any text book – we strongly recommend Brukner & Khan’s Clinical Sports Medicine as a great reference for sports injury info.

Once you’ve absorbed all the injury info and seen a few patients, case studies are the best way to apply that knowledge in different contexts.

Once you’ve gone through and responded to the prompt questions, it doesn’t end there.

You can match your answers against the mentor’s responses and rationale. You could match it against a colleague who has also attempted the case study. Or you could bounce your answers and reasoning off a senior colleague at work.

The goal here is not just getting the right answer – it’s about having the right reasoning behind that answer that is the key building block to a successful career.

Keen to earn a little more or kickstart a mini-business on the side? We’ve got 8 cracking ideas for Physiotherapists to diversify their interests and earn some spare cash in the process (opens in new tab).