Physiotherapist

What does a physiotherapist do?

A physiotherapist assesses and treats people whose movement, strength or physical function is limited by injury, illness, surgery or age.

The aim is to reduce pain, restore movement and help patients manage daily life on their own.

In Singapore you will find physiotherapists in public hospitals, community hospitals, polyclinics, nursing homes, day rehabilitation centres, sports clinics, private practices and schools. Larger employers have set grades from physiotherapist up to senior and principal levels.

A physiotherapist works with doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, speech therapists, medical social workers and dietitians. Patients and their caregivers are part of the team too, because most progress happens through exercises done outside the clinic.

What the work involves

• Take a patient's history, examine their joints, muscles and movement, and agree on goals with them.
• Treat patients with hands-on techniques, exercise, and equipment such as ultrasound or heat.
• Teach patients and caregivers how to do exercises safely at home and how to manage their condition.
• Record each session, measurements and progress in the electronic medical record.
• Review progress with doctors and other therapists, then adjust the plan or plan the discharge.
• Follow safety checks, report incidents, and keep up with new clinical guidelines and training.

Pay in Singapore

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Skills a physiotherapist needs

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Physiotherapist job description

We are hiring a physiotherapist to assess and treat patients with musculoskeletal, neurological and age-related conditions.

You will plan treatment with each patient, deliver therapy, teach self-management and record care accurately. You will work with a team of doctors, nurses and other therapists, and you will be registered to practise in Singapore.

Responsibilities

• Assess new patients by taking their history and testing joint, muscle, nerve and functional ability.
• Set clear, measurable goals with each patient and, where needed, their caregivers.
• Plan and deliver treatment such as manual therapy, exercise, movement training and physical modalities.
• Prescribe exercise programmes that match each patient's condition, safety limits and progress.
• Teach patients and caregivers how to manage their condition and prevent further injury.
• Track progress with outcome measures and change the plan when results or safety concerns call for it.
• Keep accurate, timely notes in the electronic medical record and protect patient information.
• Follow infection control, falls prevention and incident reporting procedures.
• Work with doctors, nurses and other therapists on referrals, case reviews and discharge planning.
• Join clinical audits, training sessions and professional development to keep practice current.

Requirements

• A degree in physiotherapy that qualifies you to register as a physiotherapist in Singapore.
• Registration to practise with the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC), or eligibility to register.
• Fresh graduates are often welcome at entry level. Employers may ask for one to three years of clinical experience for some roles.
• Skill in musculoskeletal assessment, exercise prescription and patient safety practice.
• Comfort with electronic medical records and clear written documentation.
• Good communication in English. Another local language or dialect helps when you treat older patients.

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Physiotherapist career path

Physiotherapy in Singapore follows a clear clinical ladder, and many therapists stay in patient care as they move up.

Others add teaching, research or service management to their work.

1. Physiotherapist

   Entry · SkillsFuture title

   You assess and treat patients, teach self-management and record care. You work under supervision while you build clinical judgement.

2. Senior physiotherapist

   Mid · SkillsFuture title

   You handle complex cases in a specialty area, guide junior therapists and help with audits and quality work.

3. Principal physiotherapist (clinical)

   Senior · SkillsFuture title

   You lead clinical practice in your specialty, update guidelines, support research and teach staff and students.

4. Senior principal physiotherapist (clinical)

   Lead · SkillsFuture title

   You set the clinical direction for a service, shape new services and lead improvement and education across the organisation.

Steps marked "SkillsFuture title" follow the career pathway in the SkillsFuture Skills Framework. The others are titles commonly used in Singapore.

Related jobs and their pay

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Physiotherapist interview questions

We wrote these questions from the skills this job needs. They are not an official question bank.

1. Walk me through how you would assess a patient who comes in with new shoulder pain.

   What a good answer covers

   • Takes a history covering onset, injury, pain pattern, work and sport, and the patient's goals
   • Screens for red flags and neck involvement before testing the shoulder
   • Observes posture, tests range of movement and strength, and uses special tests
   • Reaches a working diagnosis with clear clinical reasoning
   • Explains the findings and plan without jargon

2. A patient with low back pain mentions numbness around the groin and trouble passing urine. What do you do?

   What a good answer covers

   • Recognises these as possible signs of a serious spinal problem
   • Stops treatment and holds off on exercise
   • Arranges urgent medical review through the right route
   • Documents findings and what was said to the patient
   • Stays with the patient and explains why action is needed

3. How do you choose the starting exercises for a patient in the first weeks after a knee replacement?

   What a good answer covers

   • Follows the surgeon's protocol and any limits on movement or weight bearing
   • Checks pain, swelling, range of movement and strength at baseline
   • Starts with low load and few repetitions, then progresses step by step
   • Links exercises to goals such as stairs or walking to the market
   • Reviews with outcome measures and changes the plan if progress stalls

4. Which outcome measures do you use for a patient with chronic knee pain, and how do you decide?

   What a good answer covers

   • Picks measures that match the patient's goals, such as pain scales, walking tests or function scores
   • Records a baseline and repeats at set points
   • Knows the limits of each measure and looks beyond one number
   • Uses results to adjust treatment and to show progress to the patient
   • Records results consistently so others can follow them

5. How do you write a progress note in the electronic medical record after a treatment session?

   What a good answer covers

   • Covers the patient's report, objective findings, assessment and next steps
   • Records treatment given, patient response and any adverse event
   • Uses clear wording and agreed abbreviations
   • Enters the note on the same day while details are fresh
   • Checks that anything carried over from old notes is still true

6. A patient has high blood pressure and a heart condition. What safety checks do you make before starting exercise?

   What a good answer covers

   • Reviews medical history, medicines and the doctor's advice
   • Takes resting heart rate and blood pressure and knows when to hold off
   • Uses a rating of effort or heart rate limits during exercise
   • Teaches the patient warning signs that mean stop
   • Knows the emergency steps in the clinic and who to call

7. How would you progress a patient with a recent ankle sprain from the first week to returning to sport?

   What a good answer covers

   • Manages pain and swelling early and restores range of movement
   • Builds strength and balance in stages
   • Adds hopping, cutting and sport-specific drills only when the ankle is ready
   • Uses clear criteria for each step, with time passed as only one factor
   • Teaches the patient how to lower the chance of another sprain

8. A patient does not do the home exercises you give. How do you handle this?

   What a good answer covers

   • Asks why, without blame, and listens to the reasons
   • Reduces the programme to a few exercises that fit daily routines
   • Uses written or video instructions suited to the patient
   • Sets a small goal and checks it at the next visit
   • Involves caregivers where it helps

1. An older patient loses balance and falls during an exercise session. What do you do?

   What a good answer covers

   • Makes sure the patient is safe and leaves them where they are until checked
   • Calls for help and follows the facility's emergency steps
   • Informs the doctor and the family
   • Files an incident report and records the facts
   • Reviews the cause and changes the plan to prevent a repeat

2. A patient says the pain is worse after your treatment and wants to stop coming. How do you respond?

   What a good answer covers

   • Listens and checks what changed, including any new symptoms
   • Re-examines the patient and rules out something more serious
   • Explains that some soreness can be expected while taking the concern seriously
   • Changes the dose or approach and agrees on a follow-up
   • Records the discussion and refers back to the doctor if needed

3. You have three new referrals today and one inpatient is getting worse. How do you plan your day?

   What a good answer covers

   • Sees the unwell patient first and tells the doctor or nurse in charge
   • Sorts the new referrals by urgency and discharge deadlines
   • Asks the senior or team lead for help if the load is too high
   • Tells patients if their sessions will be delayed
   • Notes what was done and what is left for the next shift

1. Tell us about a time you disagreed with a doctor or another therapist about a treatment plan.

   What a good answer covers

   • Describes the situation and the different views clearly
   • Used evidence and patient goals to back their view
   • Stayed respectful and spoke to the person directly
   • Reached a plan that put the patient first
   • Shares what was learned

2. Describe feedback from a supervisor that changed how you treat patients.

   What a good answer covers

   • Gives a specific example
   • Shows they listened and stayed open to the feedback
   • Explains what they changed and how they checked it worked
   • Describes the effect on patient care

1. A patient's adult child phones and asks about the patient's diagnosis and progress. What do you do?

   What a good answer covers

   • Checks whether the patient has agreed to share information
   • Follows the organisation's policy under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and patient confidentiality rules
   • Shares only what is needed, or asks the patient to be present
   • Gives no details over the phone to someone they cannot verify
   • Records the request and the response

2. An older patient lives in an HDB flat with a domestic helper and speaks mainly dialect. How do you set up their home exercise programme?

   What a good answer covers

   • Uses simple exercises that fit a small space and need little equipment
   • Teaches the helper or family member to supervise safely
   • Uses spoken demonstration, pictures or an interpreter in place of long written notes
   • Includes falls prevention and checks the home layout
   • Reviews progress and links to community services where needed

Common questions about a physiotherapist job

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