Senthilnathan Senior 1 Physiotherapist "I split my time between working with patients and administration. I assess patients in outpatients."

Senthilnathan works in a hospital team of physiotherapists. He works in the outpatients department.

How do you work with your clients?

I work with clients in groups in the gym where they do various exercises and activities. But I also work on a one-to-one basis to give specialised treatment such as manual therapy or electrotherapy. Most clients are referred by GPs.

The outpatients department I work in is a musculo-skeletal outpatients department; the clients mainly have neck or back injuries, knee or joint problems, sports injuries or conditions such as arthritis.

What are the main challenges of the job?

Some people come to us with complex problems and the main challenges are in assessing the patient to find the right treatment - where to start the treatment and with what treatment to start.

What qualifications and experience do you have?

I got a degree in physiotherapy and worked as a junior in different areas but I found musculo-skeletal physiotherapy most rewarding. I then went to university in Australia to study musculo-skeletal physiotherapy to a higher level. I chose to go to Australia because a leading expert used to be based there, so I was taught by people who were taught by that person.

I worked in Australia as a student. I've also worked elsewhere abroad but the systems I worked in were very different. I didn't really like it because I had to make money for the department; it became more important than patient care so I came back to the UK. I'd quite like to do a higher qualification in the future, but not just yet.

What aspects of the job do you like best?

When patients first come to see me they're usually in pain and when you've worked with a patient for a while and they say, 'It's better now'. But I also like learning new techniques and treatments. There are always new things to learn.

You work with patients some of the time... what else do you do?

I'm involved in the clinical education of undergraduates from two universities. I also provide support and guidance to junior physiotherapists within this department. I sometimes have to deputise for more senior people here.

Occasionally I work with other physiotherapists in other departments if needed, as well as with other AHPs such as occupational therapists.