The New Grad Physio Podcast

Ever had a patient that broke down...Even though rehab seemed to be going well?I had a lot of these as a new grad physio, so I can relate!!!With any injury, especially re-occurring soft tissue injuries...And overload injuries such anterior knee pain or patella or achilles tendinopathies...The key to a successful rehab plan lies in your ability to identify both the site and source of your patients injury.Bear in mind, these might not be the same thing!!!You've probably heard about this kind of thing, right...But how do you do this in real-life with real patients?Listen to this week's podcast episode to find out!Enjoy the show!Andy BarkerThe New Grad Physio MentorPS. In the episode I mentioned my Lower Limb Online Course.Here's what we are covering on the course...- Why Your Patient’s Subjective History Will Tell You EVERYTHING You Need To Know & Why Rushing Through This Part Of The Assessment Will Lead To Poor Patient Outcomes- How To Link Your Subjective & Objective Assessments Together So You Only Test What You Need To, Saving You Time, Effort But More Importantly Making Sure You Make The Right Lower Limb (or Lower Back) Diagnosis- Why You Must Assess Gait With Every Patient You See & How To Pick Up Patient Compensations Easily Within The Clinic Room- How To Use ‘Simple’ Movement Tests To Show You Are How Your Patients Are Moving & Learn How These Tests Tell You What To Do Next (Even Before You Get Your Patient On The Bed) With Any Lower Back or Lower Limb Injury- A Better Way To Test Muscle Strength, To Stop Patients Being Able To Cheat Your Testing, Giving You The Correct Information You Need To Prescribe The Right ‘Strength’ Exercises (This Is The Key To Treating Issues Like Patella & Achilles Tendinopathy)- How To Select The Correct Lower Back Manual Therapy & Lower Limb Rehab Exercises Specific To Your Patients Injury & Not Just The Same Exercises Over & Over- The 6 Rehab Steps You Need To Take EVERY Patient Through To Ensure You Not Only Eliminate Pain But You Can Put Your Patient Back Into Activity Without Fear They Will Break Down Again- How To Properly Explain Your Treatment Plan To Your Patient, So They Understand What You Are Saying So They Actually Buy Into Your Treatment PlanWant to join us?Secure your seat right here!

For years I did the wrong rehab for my lower back pain patients.I then started doing something different...And it not only helped get quick relief for my patient's...But the symptoms actually stayed away!Find out more in this week's podcast episode!Enjoy the show.Andy BarkerThe New Grad Physio MentorPS. In the show I mentioned a few examples of exercises I frequently use for my lower back pain patients.Here's an example.

To design a patient's rehab plan...You need to know where you are starting from...And know where your patient needs to get to...Then you can connect the dots to get them there.Your career is no different.How do you expect to get to where you want to get to in your career...Without a plan?And if you don't understand how the job industry works...Then you might as well not even bother....As the chances of you achieving your desired job role are almost impossible!Listen to this week's podcast episode to discover some of the main components to designing your own career success path!Enjoy the show!Andy BarkerThe New Grad Physio MentorPS. In the podcast I mentioned that the doors to my 'Foot In The Door' programme are now closed...But you can join my 'VIP Waitlist' right here....And you'll find out before anyone else when the course next has spaces available!

I've made some big statements on my socials over the last week or so...About the realities of the therapy job market!As I knew it would...It has caused quite a stir...And my inboxes have exploded!If you have missed what I have been talking about then I summarise it all in this week's podcast episode.And even if you do follow my socials, I talk about a few other things...Including some of the biggest mistakes new grads make when applying for jobs...The biggest lie employers tell you (and what they really should of said)...Plus much more!Enjoy the show!!!Andy BarkerThe New Grad Physio MentorPS. If you don't follow me on social media, why not? :)You can find me here on...InstagramFacebook LinkedIn PPS. Got a question or something you want some help with?Feel free to drop me a DM on any of the above accounts...Or shout me an email to andy@newgradphysio.com if DM's are not really your thing...And I'll reply to you as soon as I see your message!

If you rely on special testing to differentially diagnose the shoulder...You might run into trouble.I used to rely too much on special testing...Which makes no sense...As the majority of shoulder special tests are so poor!There is no logical reason as to why as a profession we keep using these shoulder tests...And why they continue to be taught at Uni!I approach my shoulder pain assessments in a completely different way.Listen to this week's podcast to learn how I (and you should) assess the shoulder instead!Enjoy the show!Andy BarkerThe New Grad Physio MentorPS. Want to take a look at my FREE shoulder pain webinar?Get access to it here...'Simplifying The Shoulder'PPS. If you are listening to this pod after Thursday 24th April 2025 the free shoulder webinar is no longer available to watch for free...But you can get access here.

For most therapists, muscle injuries weren’t something that were covered in great detail at University...If at all!So, it's not surprising that as a New Grad you might feel under equipped to manage a hamstring injury, or other soft tissue injures to the calf, groin or quad.This week's podcast episode covers 3 key hamstring hacks....Giving you a better understanding about...- How to differentiate between a real hamstring injury and a sciatic nerve problem- Why stretching can be a waste of time and in some cases detrimental to your patient or athletes injury- Why you need to start the rehab process as soon as possible post injury and how to do this safelyEnjoy the show!Andy BarkerThe New Grad Physio MentorPS. Want to take things a bit further and get into the real nitty gritty of hamstring injury assessments, treatments and rehab?I have specific hamstring injury content inside the members area of my new grad physio programme!⁠Find out more here!

Before you give any rehab to your next ankle pain patient...Listen to this episode!So many therapists mistakingly give their patients the WRONG rehab...Which are a complete waste of time and effort...For both you and your patient!Discover the key tests (and questions) you need to do (and ask) to find the right patient problem...So you can give your patient the right ankle rehab (or treatment) that will actually help them get better!Enjoy the show.Andy BarkerThe New Grad Physio MentorPS. Want to learn specific hands-on treatments and rehab exercises to help with patients presenting with ankle problems…And discover how to take an ankle pain patient, with any ankle problem, through a full step-by-step rehab plan?Then check out my new grad physio programme, where I have an entire module that just focuses on the ankle!!!Find out more here!

I hated treating the neck as a new grad.Mainly because I was S*$T scared of missing something serious.But I soon worked out I was worrying for no reason.By asking a series of simple questions you can rule out all but the very obscure sinister neck pain pathologies.Listen to this week's podcast episode to learn how to do this....And discover the specific questions you need to ask EVERY patient (or athlete) you see with neck pain!Plus, hear a great rugby neck injury story (you have to hear this one to believe it!).Enjoy the show!Andy BarkerThe New Grad Physio MentorPS. Want to learn a simple strategy to better assess, treat and rehab patients with neck pain?Then head here and apply for my new grad physio programme and I'll direct you straight away to my neck module!

I've made some big statements on my socials over the last week or so...About the realities of the therapy job market! As I knew it would...It has caused quite a stir...And my inboxes have exploded!If you have missed what I have been talking about then I summarise it all in this week's podcast episode.And even if you do follow my socials, I talk about a few other things...Including some of the biggest mistakes new grads make when applying for jobs...The biggest lie employers tell you (and what they really should of said)...Plus much more!Enjoy the show!!!Andy BarkerThe New Grad Physio MentorPS. If you don't follow me on social media, why not? :)You can find me here on...Instagram FacebookLinkedIn PPS. Got a question or something you want some help with?Feel free to drop me a DM on any of the above accounts...Or hit me up directly at andy@newgradphysio.com if you are not into the whole social media thing!However you get in touch, I'll reply to you as soon as I see your message!

Whatever career goals you have...Be that a top job in sport...Running your own private practice...A specialist role in the NHS...Or something else...We all start at the same position...As a new grad physio...With a piece of paper (your degree) and a dream to one day do [X] job.But in reality, only a small number of therapists actually achieve their goals...Which is sad, really sad, when you think about it.But that does not have to be you!Listen to this week's podcast episode to learn more...And gain the belief that you (not someone else) can get to where you want to be...And achieve your own version of success...Whatever that might look like to you!Enjoy the show!Andy BarkerThe New Grad Physio Mentor