Our 2026 Band 6 MSK physio reading list (References + what to quote in your interview)

One common misconceptions when practising for senior MSK interviews is that you need to quote evidences and substantiate every answer you give. You don't need to read 40 papers and learn everything by heart... in fact it is much more reassuring for the interviewer if you sound current, safe and aware of current concepts rather than listing references you have crammed in the day before but that you barely have a grasp on.

The aim is being able to say things like "the current guidance supports education, exercise and shared decision-making as first-line care," or "ACL progression should be criteria-based rather than purely time-based," or "I'd avoid routine imaging unless it would change management." That kind of thing.

With that in mind, here's what we would focus on, by topic:

Low back pain and sciatica - NICE NG59 is the essential one. Screen red flags, keep people active, exercise-based, avoid routine imaging, manual therapy only as part of a package. There's also a good 2025 BMJ EBM review (Cashin et al) that basically reinforces - don't oversell passive treatments, focus on biopsychosocial care. If asked, say something like "I'd screen for serious pathology, avoid routine imaging unless clinically indicated, and build a plan around education, activity and exercise rather than passive treatment alone."

Neck pain and myelopathy - Feller 2024 on red flags is useful, plus the NHS GGC cervical red flags guidance. The key thing is showing you wouldn't treat bilateral upper limb symptoms as routine neck pain. Look for myelopathy signs: bilateral hand symptoms, gait disturbance, clumsiness, hyperreflexia, UMN signs; and escalate urgently.

Rotator cuff (RCRSP) - Probably the most important shoulder paper is Desmeules 2025, the new clinical practice guideline for rotator cuff tendinopathy. Use "rotator cuff-related shoulder pain" as your umbrella term. Assess irritability, strength, ROM, function and psychosocial factors. Education and progressive exercise are the foundation, manual therapy is an adjunct not the main thing. Wu 2025 is also worth knowing - tailor loading to the individual rather than giving a generic cuff programme.

Traumatic shoulder - AAOS 2025 on rotator cuff injuries is useful for the more orthopaedic/surgical awareness. In trauma cases, exclude fracture, dislocation, neurovascular compromise and traumatic cuff tear before labelling it RCRSP. There's also a JOSPT 2026 review on cuff weakness rehab - the message is measure and reassess strength and function objectively, not just pain scores. SPADI, QuickDASH, resisted testing.

Knee OA - NICE NG226 is mandatory, you must know this. OA is diagnosed clinically, doesn't usually need imaging. Core treatments: therapeutic exercise, weight management where appropriate, education, shared decision-making. Yan 2025 in BMJ is a nice current one - aerobic exercise is particularly beneficial for pain, function and QoL in knee OA, so don't just default to quads strengthening.

Patellofemoral pain - Neal 2024 BJSM best practice guide is very high-yield. Knee-targeted exercise as the core intervention, education, supportive adjuncts (taping, orthoses) only if they help engagement. The Dutch multidisciplinary anterior knee pain guideline is also worth knowing, it helps you separate PFJ pain from patellar tendinopathy, fat pad, referred pain, inflammatory causes.

ACL - The Aspetar 2023 guideline is still essential despite its age. BOA/BASK/BOSTAA is the UK one to name-drop - return-to-sport decisions should be criteria-based and consider physical, psychological and social factors. Wright 2025 scoping review highlights that strength, hop/jump and psychological readiness are the main areas. Big one for you: at 12 weeks post-op, don't automatically jump into agility. Check the protocol and objective criteria first - effusion, ROM, strength, movement quality, psychological readiness, surgical restrictions.

Tendinopathy - Meredith 2025 is a good broad refresher: activity modification, progressive loading, physio central, injections short-term only. Pavlova 2023 BJSM on resistance exercise dose is older but useful for sounding precise - talk about dose, frequency, intensity, progression rather than just "eccentrics."


Find the rest of our 2026 reading list, including references for GTPS, lateral epicondylitis, hip OA, and much more in our Band 6 MSK pack.


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Reference list


1. Low back pain and sciatica

2. Neck pain and cervical myelopathy

3. Rotator cuff-related shoulder pain

4. Traumatic shoulder and rotator cuff tears

5. Knee osteoarthritis

6. Patellofemoral pain

7. ACL rehabilitation and return to sport

8. Tendinopathy


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Band 6 / Senior MSK Interview Preparation Pack

QualifiedPhysio - Band 6 / Senior MSK Physiotherapist Interview Preparation Pack