Physiotherapy trials for the 21st century - Time to raise the bar?

Abstract

Although physiotherapy possesses examples of researchers and trials that are rigorous, broadly as a profession physiotherapy needs to address urgently the methodological quality of trials. This in turn will enable greater trust in trial and systematic review findings. As a minimum, all physiotherapy trials should be based on a trial protocol that explicitly addresses components of possible systematic bias (a priori specification of a primary outcome, randomization and concealment of allocation, blinding, intention-to-treat analysis, and avoidance of loss to follow-up) and the appropriate selection of outcome measures. Established physiotherapy researchers can facilitate this by providing consensus for minimum core sets of outcome measures for specific populations. The issues identified in this article have a wider reach than physiotherapy researchers; informing all disciplines that are without external regulation; as well as funding bodies, policymakers and commissioners.