Physio Trendz, Founder | Physio. Prem Shah

This week’s spotlight features Physio Prem Shah, Founder of Physio trendz. Before the pandemic, ‘PT content creator’ wasn’t a thing. Many physios started expressing themselves creatively during the lockdown. Physio Prem is one of those physios who started his youtube channel during the lockdown. Fast forward 2 years, and I am sure many physios have stumbled upon at least one of the informative videos created by him. In this spotlight, Prem shares his journey as a content creator, his vision, and the challenges he faced. I hope you enjoy reading his spotlight as much as I did.

What is your name? Your job title and workplace?

My name is Physio Prem shah. I work full-time as Associate Professor at Canara Vikas Physiotherapy College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. I am also a Founder, Content Creator, and Editor for Physio trendz.

What is your educational background?

I completed my master’s degree in physiotherapy (Musculoskeletal and sports) from Nitte University, Mangalore.

What did you do soon after graduation and for how long?

Soon after my post-graduation, I started working at Shradhha Physiotherapy clinic in Ahmedabad, Gujarat as Clinical Physiotherapist under Dr. Jaybardhan Mishra. I worked there for almost 6 months till I felt I had learned the most from that place. 

In those six months, I completely focused on understanding how to deal with patients, improving my soft skills, and experimenting with my abilities. 

I joined the Field of Academics immediately after that as an Assistant Professor at Ahmedabad Physiotherapy college. 

Why did you decide to start your youtube channel/ Instagram handle, Physio trendz?

I decided to start my YouTube channel and Instagram Page during the pandemic when the world had slowed down. PTs didn’t know how to cope with their fitness and studies. At that time, I wasn’t sure about my future plans for my YouTube channel or Instagram page for Physiotrendz. 

However, I felt it was the need of the hour. I wanted to motivate students and wanted them to learn some techniques from the comfort of their homes. 

Additionally, I always believed that a good physiotherapist should be physically fit to understand the effects of exercises before they apply them to their patients. That is one of the core reasons I initially started my page with different exercises for groups of muscles and some fitness challenge videos to motivate students and physios to take advantage of the time they had during the lockdown..

Tell us about your journey with your youtube channel, Physio trendz.

The journey on social media handles has been more downs and fewer ups since the beginning, but I guess that’s how it is. With regards to my YouTube channel when I initially started posting videos, I had to wait for almost a month to get 100 views and some subscribers. Frankly, it was disappointing and demotivating initially. 

But, sometimes a random comment out of the blue by a stranger stating that my explanation or teaching style is very good or the information was very helpful kept me going to make one more video with more clarity and preparation. 

Initially, I struggled with basic setups such as a mic, camera stand, quiet place, and editing skills. As time progressed, I kept making videos and in the process, I learned a lot of things with help of my students, colleagues, my family members, and positive/negative comments on my videos by my dear ones and subscribers.

After posting almost 150 videos on a regular basis for 1 year, I reached a milestone of 1000 subscribers. It was a memorable day for me. I actually celebrated that day with all my dear ones and decided to work harder. I wanted to create more impact and awareness about physiotherapy. 

By the time I had my 1000 subscribers, my vision and goal were clear. I wanted to make sure every Physiotherapist, especially freshers are good with their skills and capable of raising awareness about physiotherapy all over the world. 

Tell us about your journey with your Instagram handle, Physio trendz.

Around the same time, I also started working on my Instagram page, posting shorter videos about physiotherapy or some conditions or educational tips for students. After a few months of creating content for Instagram, I realized that people spend time on social media mostly to get entertained and not to study. 

Until then I was thinking in terms of how I would like to learn from somebody and didn’t think much about how my viewers wanted to learn. Working in Academics gave me the advantage of understanding students’ psychology and interests.

That is why I started making Insta reels in a very entertaining way while sticking to some messages or knowledge about physiotherapy or a situation a physiotherapist can come across. Those videos were really appreciated by all the students and physios. Since then physios started watching my videos for the knowledge they were getting through entertainment. 

Meanwhile, I started receiving suggestions and comments from students about what they wanted to learn and which topics their basics are not clear with. I have always believed change can not only come from the higher authorities but it can be brought from the base by students and freshers who are the future of the field. This is possible only if they work on their skills and basics.

I had a purpose and also some genuine suggestions from my viewers about what they wanted to learn and watch. Hence, I created videos to make some concepts and techniques like suspension therapy, PNF, MET, and Career pathways easier to understand.  

Where is Physio trendz now?

Now, I have more than 12K subscribers on my YouTube channel and 17K plus followers on Instagram. Yet, my struggle is ongoing to make better content and make an impact on society by providing motivation and basic skills all the Physios require. 

Recently, I started teaching students online about the basics of biomechanics. I got a very good response from the students and physios. I really appreciate my students, who are curious to learn from the basics and make the base strong.

What are you doing currently?

I work full-time as Associate Professor at Canara Vikas Physiotherapy College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. I am also a Founder, Content Creator, and Editor for Physiotrendz.

What is a typical day for you?

I start my day with a walk followed by meditation and then return home to get ready for work and pray before leaving home. After reaching college (My workplace), I prefer going for breakfast with my colleagues and then working on my to-do list for the day. 

Some days I make content for my Insta page and YouTube channel and the other days I’m occupied with patients and lectures. In the evening, I directly go to the gym and work out for at least 45 minutes and go back home by 6 pm. 

After reaching home, my wife and I share about our day. I show her any videos I have created on that day and she gives me her honest feedback. We talk to our parents about their day and have dinner. 

Later,  I start editing the videos. I also brainstorm ideas to make new content and write those down in my diary. There are times I wake up suddenly at midnight to note down the idea I randomly get when trying to sleep. I know, it might sound unreal, but I guess you would get it if you are into creating something.

What do you enjoy about your work?

I love working as an Associate professor because it always makes me connect with young minds and future of the Physiotherapy, plus I can still live my college days. Besides, I appreciate the fact that we have a very healthy working environment. All colleagues can share their points of view to shape young minds in a better way. 

I enjoy my work as a content creator since I am able to express my thoughts. Moreover, I can connect physiotherapy community to understand the needs and demands of the time.

What are the challenges you face?

Challenges have always been on my way, and every single time a new one. When I started my YouTube channel, some senior Physios used to mock me for my gestures and way of speaking. It was frustrating at that time. But I simply kept going on. Now, the same person comes and asks for my video links to teach their students. 

Another challenge is, thinking of content on current trending music or scenarios relevant to the field of physiotherapy. Plus executing exactly what you have imagined is a lot to do. 

Sometimes recording gets interrupted by calls, chaos in the background, bad lighting, or a shortage of memory on phone.

Editing the video on the very same day can be exhausting, especially after a long day of work. I wouldn’t be lying if I say that things have not always been smooth. It gets difficult to keep up with the pace. 

Then there are times when some unpredictable incidents and events ruin your day’s plans. Rising above all these and coping has been challenging. Nonetheless, it is satisfying when I get to see the positive impact on physios and students.

What is the pay like?

Pay in the field of physiotherapy has always been a popular question. After working in this field for more than 8 years now, I can say that I earn enough to run my house, own a car, have multiple trips around the country in a year, and also to take care of my parents in all the ways with some savings left.

What do you think can be improved?

Lots of things to be improved in our field of physiotherapy and how the system works. First of all, we need a centralized council, which decides the Norms to start a Physiotherapy college. This includes what basic facilities are required, faculty requirements, syllabus, and maximum number of student intake. Colleges are like manufacturers of future physios. If they start producing low-quality, less exposed therapists how are we going to lift up the profession? 

Some improvements can be brought in how the referral system works in healthcare. Meaning, doctors are supposed to write a referral for physiotherapy and not write physiotherapy treatments instead. 

We need to change our family and neighbors’ point of view about physiotherapy and how it works to raise awareness. Since awareness always starts from our home and surroundings. All these things are possible only if there is teamwork, respect for each other, and correct knowledge about the field. 

What courses/books helped you in shaping your career?

I am not a person who reads lots of books and studies all the time. Some of my all-time favorite books are:

• David J Magee
• Susan O’Sullivan
• Exercise therapy book by Kisner and Colby
• Biomechanics book by Cynthia Norkin

I like to refer to recent articles on common cases that I see in clinics for updated versions of protocols. I also have case discussions with my students, colleagues, and seniors to know their points of view.

What is next for you and Physio trendz?

I would love to connect with a maximum number of physios. Since I want to motivate them to work on their basics to have a wonderful career ahead. Moreover, I have planned certain goals for the next 3 years with current projects going on. I wish to have a like-minded group of people in Physio trendz who want to express themselves creatively.

What is your advice for someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

If I have to give advice to all who want to follow in my footsteps, which I keep reminding myself is 

1. Don’t hesitate to represent your thoughts and creative side because of the fear of how others will react.
2. Never wait for others to do it for you, because my dear friends, it doesnt matter if you are close to someone or they are capable of doing your work. They will never do your work.
3. One more thing I would like to share here which I have read somewhere about self-motivation, if you want to do something, count to 5 in your head and if you still haven’t got up to do it, it means you don’t really want it. So, if you really want to do something just get up before you can count to 5 and never allow your laziness to take over.

Where can people find you?

You can find me on my website www.physiotrendz.com. You can connect with me on my Instagram or LinkedIn. And ofcourse, you can watch my videos on my YouTube channel “Physio trendz”.