Relationship between physical therapy examination skills and clinical reasoning of novice physiotherapists

In Japan, an imbalance between supervisors and novice physiotherapists may affect the development of clinical reasoning skills. This study examined the clinical reasoning abilities of 15 novice physiotherapists (1-5 years of experience) using simulated stroke cases. Participants listed necessary physiotherapy measurements and wrote assessment descriptions. Results showed a moderate positive correlation between selecting relevant measurement items and higher clinical reasoning quality. In conclusion, the ability to choose appropriate measurements is key to stronger clinical reasoning, while those who struggle may have difficulty connecting results logically.