Shoulder pain after trauma is common—but jumping to a diagnosis too quickly can lead to missed pathology or poor management decisions.In this second case-based episode, we work through a 45-year-old female with shoulder pain after a fall, and explore how to systematically rule out serious injury while refining your diagnosis.We break down how to differentiate between:Fracture, dislocation, and serious rotator cuff tearsRotator cuff-related shoulder painFrozen shoulder (and when to suspect it)Alongside this, we explore how pre-existing symptoms, comorbidities, and movement assessment shape your clinical reasoning.Alex and Francesca walk through a realistic clinical scenario, showing how experienced clinicians think through uncertainty, avoid common traps, and adapt assessment based on the patient in front of them.This is essential listening for:• Physiotherapy students and new graduates building assessment confidence• Band 5–6 clinicians in MSK, FCP, or primary care settings• Clinicians wanting clarity on shoulder pain diagnosis and management🔍 We cover:✔ What to rule out after shoulder trauma (fracture, dislocation, cuff tear)✔ When special tests are useful in shoulder assessment✔ Rotator cuff-related pain vs subacromial pain✔ How pre-existing stiffness changes your diagnosis✔ Frozen shoulder risk factors (diabetes, age, comorbidities)✔ Active vs passive range: what actually matters✔ When to image—and when to wait✔ Why subjective history is critical in shoulder cases⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Case introduction: shoulder pain after a fall01:10 – Red flags: fracture, dislocation, cuff tear04:00 – How to recognise serious shoulder pathology06:10 – Special tests: when they help (and when they don’t)09:00 – Most likely diagnosis: rotator cuff-related pain11:30 – What to assess objectively (movement & loading)14:00 – New information: pre-existing pain & stiffness16:00 – Frozen shoulder risk factors & reasoning18:30 – Active vs passive range: key differences21:00 – Functional assessment & positioning23:30 – Special tests for subacromial pain25:30 – Imaging decisions: X-ray or wait?28:00 – Monitoring vs referring: what guides your decision?30:30 – Key clinical reasoning takeaways📌 Key takeaway: Shoulder pain after trauma isn’t always “just a cuff issue”—strong clinical reasoning means ruling out serious pathology, recognising pre-existing conditions, and adapting your assessment to the individual.Resources referenced in the discussion:Ladermann et al 2021: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32725446/Dakkak et al 2021: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32822265/Subscribe for clear, structured clinical reasoning you can use on placement tomorrow. If you found this video helpful, please like and subscribe as this really helps our channel.Please note this video is intended as a teaching and learning resource for healthcare students or professionals, and is not intended as medical advice or a substitute for clinical assessment or professional training. Please follow the guidance of your health professional or educators.

Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common presentations in MSK practice — but assuming “it’s just OA” can lead to missed pathology and poor outcomes.In this case-based episode, we work through a 70-year-old male with worsening knee pain despite previous imaging showing moderate osteoarthritis. We explore how to avoid premature closure, identify red flags, and apply structured clinical reasoning to decide when it’s safe to manage conservatively vs escalate.

Alex is a physiotherapist and lecturer with a background in pain management, clinical assessment and rehabilitation, alongside Francesca, a clinical specialist physiotherapist working as an FCP, MCAT and private practice clinician.

This is essential listening for:

• Physiotherapy students and new graduates developing clinical reasoning

• Band 5–6 clinicians working in MSK, FCP or rehab settings

• Clinicians wanting clarity on knee pain assessment and management

We cover:

✔ When knee pain might NOT be osteoarthritis

✔ Red flags: cancer, infection, fracture risk

✔ How to interpret night pain properly

✔ Why imaging can mislead clinical reasoning

✔ First-line management of knee OA (and what actually works)

✔ Exercise vs passive treatments✔ When to refer for injections or surgery

✔ Managing expectations around knee replacement outcomes

📌 Key takeaway:

Not all knee pain is “just arthritis” — safe clinical reasoning means ruling out serious pathology, understanding the patient’s goals, and knowing when to escalate.

See below for the resources mentioned in the video:https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/shared-decision-making/decision-support-tools/

00:00 – Introduction: Is it really OA?

01:05 – Red flags & differential diagnoses

03:00 – Interpreting night pain properly

05:00 – Patient expectations & goal setting

08:40 – First-line management (exercise vs passive care)

10:30 – Lifestyle factors (weight, sleep, stress)

13:40 – What if physio hasn’t worked?

15:00 – Treating the patient vs the pathology

17:30 – Surgery, injections & realistic outcomSubscribe for clear, structured clinical reasoning you can use on placement tomorrow. If you found this video helpful, please like and subscribe as this really helps our channel.Please note this video is intended as a teaching and learning resource for healthcare students or professionals, and is not intended as medical advice or a substitute for clinical assessment or professional training. Please follow the guidance of your health professional or educators.

In this episode, we dive deep into the essential skills of Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) and how to apply them to your clinical practice. For students and new graduates, mastering the clinical reasoning behind CFT is a game-changer for improving patient outcomes and building trust in complex cases.We move beyond basic exercise prescription to explore the reasoning framework that helps you understand the "why" behind every clinical decision. Whether you're a first-year student or a new clinician, this deep dive provides the tools you need to enhance your patient buy-in and professional confidence.Key Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to CFT and Clinical Reasoning05:30 - The Reasoning Framework: Moving Beyond Bio-Mechanical Models12:45 - Essential Skills for Students: Effective Communication in CFT22:10 - Applying CFT in Complex Clinical Cases35:20 - Strategies for Improving Patient Buy-In45:15 - Clinical Reasoning Summary and Next Steps for New GradsRelated Episodes: If you enjoyed this deep dive into clinical decision-making, be sure to check out our other podcast episodes:The Reality of Elite Sport: Trauma, High Stakes & Clinical Decisions – Explore how high-pressure environments influence clinical reasoning.Understanding IBS: symptoms, causes and clinical realities – A closer look at clinical realities in internal health.Charcot foot: the diabetic red flag all clinicians need to know – Essential knowledge for identifying critical clinical indicators.Don't forget to subscribe to ABPT Physi-ed for more evidence-based physiotherapy education and clinical reasoning support!