Over the past six weeks, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting three physiotherapy students—Alvin, Zoe, and Ryan—on placement at goPhysio. As they wrap up their time with us, they’ve shared their reflections on what they’ve learned, how their expectations compared to reality, and how this experience has shaped their future career aspirations. From hands-on patient care and creative rehabilitation strategies to the unique benefits of private practice, their insights highlight the value of immersive, real-world learning. Here’s what they had to say.

Alvin

I’ve really enjoyed my time at goPhysio, and I want to sincerely thank the entire team for making it such a welcoming and enriching environment, even during such a busy period and with the opening of the Ampfield Meadows clinic, and accommodating the three of us students. The support and willingness to involve us in so many different aspects of the clinic have truly made this a valuable learning experience.

Before starting my placement, I expected to gain hands-on experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and observe how private practice differs from the NHS. I had the opportunity to actively participate in patient care, lead classes such as chair Pilates and rehab sessions, and gain valuable insight into both the business and holistic approach of private physiotherapy. The one-on-one patient interactions and the integration of rehab with Pilates were particularly eye-opening, as they highlighted how movement-based therapy can be both rehabilitative and preventative which the latter I tend to see less of in NHS.

Another unexpected but highly enjoyable part of my experience has been working on social media content for goPhysio. Being able to brainstorm, create, and film videos to promote gophysio in an engaging way has been a major highlight of my placement. It’s given me a new appreciation for how digital outreach can enhance patient engagement and education, and I hope to take these skills forward in my career.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is how to improve patient adherence to rehabilitation. It became clear that factors such as appointment flexibility, treatment frequency, and patient engagement have a significant impact on outcomes. Seeing how private physiotherapy allows for consistent follow-ups and personalised treatment plans reinforced just how crucial these elements are in maximising recovery and long-term health benefits.

I also learned the importance of adapting rehab exercises creatively to fit a patient’s lifestyle, making their rehab more accessible and sustainable. Integrating exercises into daily routines can make rehab feel less like a chore and more like a natural part of life.

This placement has deepened my interest in private physiotherapy, particularly in how it allows for individualised, hands-on care that goes beyond symptom management to address the whole patient. The patient-centered approach at goPhysio has reinforced how crucial it is to engage patients in their rehab journey, helping them understand the purpose behind each exercise and empowering them to take charge of their recovery.

Going forward, I plan to incorporate more patient education, creative exercise adaptations, and engagement strategies in my future practice—whether in private or public healthcare. This experience has also highlighted the importance of integrating movement-based approaches like Pilates to support long-term musculoskeletal health, and I hope to explore this further in my career.

Ryan 

My expectations before coming to placement were to be honest very mixed. This is because the placement I had prior to this one was MSK outpatients in the NHS, meaning that I was able to get a lot of independence and responsibility when it comes to assessing and treating patients alone.

Upon starting this placement this expectation threw me off due to me not having a vast and appropriate understanding of what a private setting entails. Although I wasn’t understandably able to handle my own caseload, I did get a lot more experience rehabbing patients, leading classes, using treatment techniques like massage, shockwave and ultrasound which I didn’t see in the NHS.

Using these experiences I now am grateful I got this opportunity because treatment techniques like massage have always wanted to improve those skills. Also the environment in private compared to the NHS is very chilled and less stressful which I very much enjoyed.

The most valuable thing I have learned during my time here I feel is how important spending time with patients is. For example, working with a patient in a 1-2-1 rehab session and getting an understanding of how much more they can improve / be benefited by having more time devoted towards that one individual.

This placement has influenced my future career plans by recognising that for an outpatient setting I would much rather be in a private clinic than an NHS one due to the fact that I am able to be a part of that patient journey and the environment is a lot more chilled and less stressful which I enjoy.

Zoe 

Before starting my placement at goPhysio, I was expecting to gain some understanding into the workings of a private practice as well as develop my understanding into common MSK pathologies and treatment to further develop my clinical reasoning skills. However, upon completing my placement, I have seen a variety of cases that range in complexity, allowing me to apply my knowledge from across my course instead of sticking to set protocols and pathways. I have also learnt the workings of private practice environments and how they may differ from being within the NHS.

The most surprising thing I have learnt whilst being on placement here is the range of patient types that walk through the door. I have learnt that not every treatment path is linear, and to always look at the patient as an individual rather than a presenting condition, as patients rarely stick to textbook presentation.

This placement has taught me the differences between NHS and private practice, and how the variety of treatment options available earlier to patients can positively impact their recovery. Furthermore, I have learnt about the variety of services that are available to patients, as well as clients who are interested in improving their athletic performance. Finally, I have learnt a variety of hands-on techniques and adaptations to help with my handling, which I can apply across all areas of my study and can take forward into my future career path