HK Physio Registration study guide
HK Physio Registration · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Registration as a physiotherapist in Hong Kong is administered by the Physiotherapists Board of Hong Kong under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance. Candidates who trained outside Hong Kong, or whose qualifications the Board does not recognise outright, typically sit the Board's registration examination to demonstrate that their knowledge and clinical reasoning meet the local standard. The HK Physio Registration study guide has 10 sections and about 4,137 words.
01Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology
This section tests applied anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology as they appear in clinical physiotherapy, not isolated recall. The examiner expects you to explain how a lesion, disease process or developmental change produces the observed impairment, and to use that explanation to choose safe assessment and treatment.
404 words, about 2 min02Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
This domain tests orthopaedic, rheumatological and manual therapy reasoning across the lifespan. Questions commonly ask you to separate mechanical from systemic presentations, select a safe load progression, and justify passive techniques only as an adjunct to active rehabilitation.
403 words, about 2 min03Neurological Physiotherapy
This domain covers adult and paediatric neurorehabilitation. The exam tests lesion localisation, prognosis, tone and movement analysis, task-specific training, and safe management of impairments such as weakness, spasticity, ataxia and neglect.
382 words, about 2 min04Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy
This domain tests respiratory assessment, airway clearance, exercise prescription, intensive care and pulmonary rehabilitation. The examiner expects safe interpretation of observations, auscultation, chest imaging and arterial blood gases, plus recognition of when physiotherapy is unsafe or needs medical escalation.
370 words, about 2 min05Physiotherapy in Older People, Community and Primary Care
This domain tests frailty, falls, sarcopenia, home safety, community resources and primary care triage. The exam expects person-centred goals that keep older people active and safe at home, with attention to polypharmacy, cognition, carers and social context.
368 words, about 2 min06Paediatrics
This domain tests child development, family-centred practice, paediatric assessment and rehabilitation for conditions such as cerebral palsy, developmental coordination disorder and orthopaedic problems. The exam expects you to distinguish normal variation from red flags and to adapt communication and consent to the child's age.
376 words, about 2 min07Women's Health and Other Clinical Specialties
This domain covers pelvic health, prenatal and postnatal care, breast and gynaecological oncology rehabilitation, lymphoedema, osteoporosis and other specialties. The exam tests sensitive communication, red flag recognition, pelvic floor assessment and safe exercise prescription across life stages.
368 words, about 2 min08Assessment, Clinical Reasoning and Treatment Planning
This domain tests hypothesis-driven assessment, differential diagnosis, outcome selection and treatment planning. The examiner looks for a clear link between subjective findings, physical examination, functional diagnosis, goals and reassessment.
340 words, about 2 min09Professional Ethics, Law and Regulatory Practice in Hong Kong
This domain tests professional conduct, consent, confidentiality, record keeping, negligence and the Hong Kong regulatory framework. Candidates should know that physiotherapy is regulated under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Cap.
385 words, about 2 min10Evidence-Based Practice, Research Methods and Critical Appraisal
This domain tests whether you can turn a clinical uncertainty into a searchable question, appraise evidence and apply it to a patient. The exam expects understanding of study design, bias, effect measures, diagnostic accuracy and guideline use, not memorised statistics alone.
741 words, about 4 min