PhysiotherapyMusculoskeletal
Neck pain with arm tingling
Presentation: 50-year-old with neck pain and stiffness and occasional arm tingling.
Learning point: Cervical spondylosis — posture, exercises and ergonomics after a red-flag screen.
Loading…
Sharpen your clinical reasoning with de-identified teaching cases across medical, dental and physiotherapy subjects. A fresh set is picked every day.
Presentation: 50-year-old with neck pain and stiffness and occasional arm tingling.
Learning point: Cervical spondylosis — posture, exercises and ergonomics after a red-flag screen.
Presentation: 60-year-old with knee pain worse on activity, short-lived morning stiffness and crepitus.
Learning point: Knee osteoarthritis — quadriceps strengthening, weight loss and activity modification.
Presentation: 60-year-old after abdominal surgery with shallow breathing and retained secretions.
Learning point: Chest physiotherapy — deep breathing, early mobilisation and airway clearance to prevent atelectasis.
Presentation: 40-year-old with sudden unilateral facial weakness, unable to close one eye.
Learning point: Facial (Bell's) palsy — eye protection and facial exercises; most recover.
Presentation: 24-year-old footballer after ACL reconstruction needing a return-to-sport programme.
Learning point: ACL rehab — progressive strengthening, proprioception and criteria-based return to sport.
Presentation: 68-year-old with COPD, breathless on exertion and deconditioned.
Learning point: Pulmonary rehabilitation — exercise training, breathing techniques and education.
Presentation: 52-year-old with diabetes and progressive shoulder pain with restricted active and passive movement.
Learning point: Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) — analgesia and phase-appropriate mobilisation and stretching.
Presentation: 65-year-old after a stroke with right hemiparesis and difficulty walking and with daily activities.
Learning point: Neuro-rehabilitation — task-specific training and gait/functional retraining.
Presentation: 45-year-old with shoulder pain on overhead activity and a painful arc.
Learning point: Rotator cuff tendinopathy — activity modification and progressive loading exercises.
Presentation: 5-year-old with spastic diplegia, a tiptoe gait and tight hamstrings.
Learning point: Cerebral palsy physiotherapy — stretching, strengthening and positioning within multidisciplinary care.
Presentation: 70-year-old with Parkinson's disease, a shuffling gait, freezing and falls.
Learning point: Parkinson's rehab — cueing strategies, gait and balance training, and falls prevention.
Presentation: 40-year-old with sharp heel pain that is worst on the first steps in the morning.
Learning point: Plantar fasciitis — calf and plantar stretching, footwear advice and load management.
72 cases — search by keyword, topic or subject.
Presentation: Sudden severe retrosternal chest pain radiating to the left arm with sweating and nausea for 40 minutes.
Learning point: Acute coronary syndrome — immediate ECG and troponin; time-critical reperfusion for STEMI.
Presentation: 65-year-old with exertional dyspnoea, orthopnoea, raised JVP, bilateral ankle oedema and basal crackles.
Learning point: Congestive heart failure — confirm with echo/BNP; diuretics plus guideline-directed therapy.
Presentation: 35-year-old with prolonged fever, a new regurgitant murmur and splinter haemorrhages.
Learning point: Infective endocarditis — blood cultures and echo (Duke criteria); prolonged targeted antibiotics.
Presentation: 45-year-old with sudden pleuritic chest pain, breathlessness and a swollen, tender calf.
Learning point: Pulmonary embolism — apply a validated risk score, D-dimer/CTPA; anticoagulate promptly.
Presentation: 20-year-old with episodic wheeze and cough, worse at night and on exercise, relieved by an inhaler.
Learning point: Asthma — reversible airflow obstruction; inhaled corticosteroid plus reliever, and check technique.
Presentation: 70-year-old with fever, productive cough, pleuritic pain and bronchial breathing at the right base.
Learning point: Community-acquired pneumonia — CURB-65 for severity; empirical antibiotics.
Presentation: 68-year-old smoker with increased breathlessness, purulent sputum and a barrel chest.
Learning point: COPD exacerbation — controlled oxygen, bronchodilators and steroids, with antibiotics if infective.
Presentation: 72-year-old with sudden right-sided weakness, facial droop and slurred speech.
Learning point: Acute stroke — urgent CT to exclude bleed; thrombolysis/thrombectomy if eligible within the window.
Presentation: 50-year-old with a sudden thunderclap occipital headache and neck stiffness.
Learning point: Subarachnoid haemorrhage — urgent CT; if negative, lumbar puncture for xanthochromia.
Presentation: 35-year-old with ascending symmetrical weakness and loss of reflexes days after diarrhoea.
Learning point: Guillain-Barré syndrome — monitor respiratory function; IVIG or plasma exchange.
Presentation: 19-year-old with fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, photophobia and a non-blanching rash.
Learning point: Meningococcal meningitis — do not delay antibiotics; lumbar puncture when safe.
Presentation: 22-year-old with periumbilical pain migrating to the right iliac fossa, anorexia and low-grade fever.
Learning point: Acute appendicitis — largely clinical; appendicectomy.
Presentation: 55-year-old on NSAIDs with haematemesis, melaena and epigastric pain.
Learning point: Upper GI bleed — resuscitate first; endoscopy for diagnosis and haemostasis.
Presentation: 45-year-old with severe epigastric pain radiating to the back, vomiting and raised lipase.
Learning point: Acute pancreatitis — supportive care, fluids and analgesia; identify the cause (gallstones/alcohol).
Presentation: 40-year-old with RUQ pain after fatty food, fever and a positive Murphy's sign.
Learning point: Acute cholecystitis — ultrasound confirms; antibiotics and cholecystectomy.
Presentation: 18-year-old with polyuria, thirst and weight loss, now vomiting, drowsy and breathing deeply with ketones.
Learning point: Diabetic ketoacidosis — IV fluids, insulin and potassium; treat the trigger.
Presentation: 30-year-old with weight loss, palpitations, tremor, heat intolerance and a goitre.
Learning point: Hyperthyroidism (Graves') — confirm with TFTs; beta-blocker plus an antithyroid drug.
Presentation: 50-year-old with fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, constipation and dry skin.
Learning point: Hypothyroidism — raised TSH; levothyroxine replacement.
Presentation: 40-year-old with fatigue and hyperpigmentation, now hypotensive and vomiting with hyponatraemia and hyperkalaemia.
Learning point: Adrenal (Addisonian) crisis — IV hydrocortisone and fluids; treat before results return.
Presentation: 70-year-old with reduced urine output and rising creatinine and potassium after an infection.
Learning point: Acute kidney injury — classify pre-/intra-/post-renal; treat the cause and protect the kidney.
Presentation: 8-year-old with periorbital oedema, frothy urine, heavy proteinuria and low albumin.
Learning point: Nephrotic syndrome (minimal change) — steroids; watch for infection and thrombosis.
Presentation: 28-year-old with cyclical fever, chills, rigors and splenomegaly after travel to an endemic area.
Learning point: Malaria — smear/RDT; species-directed antimalarials; assess for severe features.
Presentation: 25-year-old with high fever, retro-orbital pain, myalgia, rash and thrombocytopenia.
Learning point: Dengue — supportive care and careful fluid monitoring; watch for warning signs.
Presentation: 40-year-old with cough over three weeks, weight loss, night sweats and haemoptysis.
Learning point: Pulmonary tuberculosis — sputum AFB/GeneXpert; start DOTS.
Presentation: 20-year-old with a stepwise fever, relative bradycardia, abdominal discomfort and rose spots.
Learning point: Enteric (typhoid) fever — blood culture; appropriate antibiotics; watch for perforation.
Presentation: 35-year-old with fatigue, pallor, menorrhagia, low MCV and low ferritin.
Learning point: Iron-deficiency anaemia — find the source of loss; replace iron.
Presentation: 16-year-old with known sickle cell disease and severe bone pain after cold and dehydration.
Learning point: Vaso-occlusive crisis — analgesia, hydration and oxygen; look for triggers and infection.
Presentation: 22-year-old who took an overdose of paracetamol several hours ago and initially feels well.
Learning point: Paracetamol poisoning — use the treatment nomogram; N-acetylcysteine prevents hepatotoxicity.
Presentation: 40-year-old farmer with salivation, lacrimation, miosis and bronchorrhoea after pesticide exposure.
Learning point: Organophosphate poisoning — atropine (plus pralidoxime); protect the airway.
Presentation: 30-year-old with urticaria, wheeze, facial swelling and hypotension minutes after a sting.
Learning point: Anaphylaxis — intramuscular adrenaline immediately; airway, oxygen and fluids.
Presentation: 2-year-old with a barking cough, inspiratory stridor and low-grade fever, worse when upset.
Learning point: Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) — keep the child calm; corticosteroids, and adrenaline if severe.
Presentation: 6-month-old with coryza then wheeze, tachypnoea and feeding difficulty during winter.
Learning point: Bronchiolitis (usually RSV) — supportive care with feeding and oxygen support.
Presentation: 9-month-old with intermittent colicky pain drawing the legs up and redcurrant-jelly stool.
Learning point: Intussusception — ultrasound target sign; reduction by air/contrast enema.
Presentation: 28-year-old with amenorrhoea, then lower abdominal pain and spotting; pregnancy test positive.
Learning point: Ectopic pregnancy — beta-hCG and ultrasound; medical/surgical care; beware rupture.
Presentation: 30-year-old at 32 weeks with headache, oedema, hypertension and proteinuria.
Learning point: Pre-eclampsia — control blood pressure, magnesium for seizure prophylaxis; timely delivery.
Presentation: 45-year-old with persistent low mood, anhedonia, poor sleep and appetite, and hopelessness.
Learning point: Major depression — assess suicide risk; psychotherapy with or without an SSRI.
Presentation: 26-year-old with reduced need for sleep, grandiosity, pressured speech and overspending.
Learning point: Bipolar mania — ensure safety; mood stabiliser or antipsychotic.
Presentation: 60-year-old with diabetes and a hot, red, tender, spreading area on the leg with fever.
Learning point: Cellulitis — mark the margin; antibiotics; find the entry point.
Presentation: 50-year-old with an acutely hot, swollen, painful knee and fever.
Learning point: Septic arthritis — aspirate the joint before antibiotics; it is an emergency.
Presentation: 55-year-old with sudden severe pain and swelling of the first MTP joint overnight.
Learning point: Gout — urate crystals; NSAID or colchicine acutely; urate-lowering therapy later.
Presentation: 80-year-old after a fall with a shortened, externally rotated leg, unable to weight-bear.
Learning point: Neck-of-femur fracture — analgesia and imaging; surgical fixation or replacement.
Presentation: 60-year-old with a sudden painful red eye, haloes, cloudy cornea and a fixed mid-dilated pupil.
Learning point: Acute angle-closure glaucoma — sight-threatening; urgent pressure-lowering.
Presentation: 65-year-old with colicky pain, distension, vomiting and absolute constipation after prior surgery.
Learning point: Intestinal obstruction — 'drip and suck'; find the cause; operate if strangulated.
Presentation: 60-year-old with confusion, marked dehydration and very high glucose without significant ketosis.
Learning point: Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state — cautious fluids and insulin; treat the precipitant.
Presentation: 24-year-old with sensitivity to sweet and cold and a brown, cavitated lesion on a molar.
Learning point: Dental caries — remove decay and restore; prevent with fluoride and diet advice.
Presentation: 30-year-old with spontaneous throbbing pain that lingers after hot drinks and worsens on lying down.
Learning point: Irreversible pulpitis — root canal treatment or extraction.
Presentation: 40-year-old with severe pain, facial swelling and a tooth exquisitely tender to percussion.
Learning point: Acute apical abscess — drain and remove the source; antibiotics if spreading.
Presentation: 50-year-old smoker with bleeding gums, halitosis, deep pockets and mobile teeth.
Learning point: Chronic periodontitis — scaling and root planing, oral hygiene and risk-factor control.
Presentation: 22-year-old (stressed, smoker) with painful bleeding gums, punched-out interdental ulcers and halitosis.
Learning point: Acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis — debridement, oral hygiene and metronidazole.
Presentation: 25-year-old with pain and swelling around a partially erupted lower wisdom tooth and limited opening.
Learning point: Pericoronitis — irrigation and hygiene; consider extraction.
Presentation: 60-year-old tobacco user with a non-healing ulcer with rolled, indurated margins on the lateral tongue.
Learning point: Oral squamous cell carcinoma — biopsy any non-healing ulcer; refer early.
Presentation: 20-year-old with recurrent small, round, painful ulcers with a yellow base and red halo.
Learning point: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis — usually self-limiting; topical care; exclude deficiencies.
Presentation: 70-year-old denture wearer on steroids with white, curd-like patches that wipe off.
Learning point: Oral candidiasis — antifungals and denture hygiene; find the predisposing factor.
Presentation: 10-year-old whose permanent front tooth was knocked out during play.
Learning point: Avulsed permanent tooth — reimplant as soon as possible or store in milk; time is critical.
Presentation: 45-year-old with bilateral submandibular swelling, a raised tongue and difficulty swallowing after a dental infection.
Learning point: Ludwig's angina — an airway emergency; drainage and IV antibiotics.
Presentation: 35-year-old with brief sharp pain to cold on exposed root surfaces.
Learning point: Dentine hypersensitivity — desensitising toothpaste; address recession and erosion.
Presentation: 28-year-old with jaw pain, clicking and limited opening, worse with stress and clenching.
Learning point: Temporomandibular disorder — reassurance, soft diet and an occlusal splint; manage bruxism.
Presentation: 15-year-old from a high-fluoride area with diffuse white and brown mottling of the enamel.
Learning point: Dental fluorosis — from excess fluoride during tooth development; cosmetic management.
Presentation: 35-year-old with mechanical low back pain, no red flags, worse on bending.
Learning point: Mechanical low back pain — stay active, exercise therapy and education; avoid unnecessary imaging.
Presentation: 52-year-old with diabetes and progressive shoulder pain with restricted active and passive movement.
Learning point: Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) — analgesia and phase-appropriate mobilisation and stretching.
Presentation: 65-year-old after a stroke with right hemiparesis and difficulty walking and with daily activities.
Learning point: Neuro-rehabilitation — task-specific training and gait/functional retraining.
Presentation: 24-year-old footballer after ACL reconstruction needing a return-to-sport programme.
Learning point: ACL rehab — progressive strengthening, proprioception and criteria-based return to sport.
Presentation: 68-year-old with COPD, breathless on exertion and deconditioned.
Learning point: Pulmonary rehabilitation — exercise training, breathing techniques and education.
Presentation: 60-year-old after abdominal surgery with shallow breathing and retained secretions.
Learning point: Chest physiotherapy — deep breathing, early mobilisation and airway clearance to prevent atelectasis.
Presentation: 40-year-old with sudden unilateral facial weakness, unable to close one eye.
Learning point: Facial (Bell's) palsy — eye protection and facial exercises; most recover.
Presentation: 50-year-old with neck pain and stiffness and occasional arm tingling.
Learning point: Cervical spondylosis — posture, exercises and ergonomics after a red-flag screen.
Presentation: 60-year-old with knee pain worse on activity, short-lived morning stiffness and crepitus.
Learning point: Knee osteoarthritis — quadriceps strengthening, weight loss and activity modification.
Presentation: 70-year-old with Parkinson's disease, a shuffling gait, freezing and falls.
Learning point: Parkinson's rehab — cueing strategies, gait and balance training, and falls prevention.
Presentation: 22-year-old with an inversion injury, lateral ankle pain and swelling, able to partially weight-bear.
Learning point: Lateral ankle sprain — early relative rest and ice, then progressive loading and balance work.
Presentation: 5-year-old with spastic diplegia, a tiptoe gait and tight hamstrings.
Learning point: Cerebral palsy physiotherapy — stretching, strengthening and positioning within multidisciplinary care.
Presentation: 45-year-old with shoulder pain on overhead activity and a painful arc.
Learning point: Rotator cuff tendinopathy — activity modification and progressive loading exercises.
Presentation: 40-year-old with sharp heel pain that is worst on the first steps in the morning.
Learning point: Plantar fasciitis — calf and plantar stretching, footwear advice and load management.
Educational only — not clinical advice. Cases are simplified, de-identified teaching scenarios; always correlate clinically.
Live coaching and subject-matter experts for MBBS, BDS, BAMS, NEET-PG, Pre-Med & MD. Book a session, clear your doubts, and learn the smart way.