Researchers and Clinicians: A Growing Divide or Narrowing Gap?
Taken from:
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy
Official Publication of the Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy Sections of the American Physical Therapy Association
Researchers and Clinicians: A Growing Divide or Narrowing Gap?
Roy Bechtel, PT, PhD1
Joshua A. Cleland, DPT, PhD, OCS2
Britt Smith, MSPT, OCS, FAAOMPT3
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2006;36(7):451–461. doi:10.2519/jospt.2006.0108
This month’s guest editorial is unusual in its format (and length) in that it is
composed of 3 separate contributions. What initially started as a letter to the
editor from Dr Bechtel was supplemented by related opinions from Dr Cleland
and Mr Smith to evolve into a rich and timely discussion about the divide that
seems to exist between physical therapy research and clinical practice. Are
researchers clearly out of touch with clinical reality and do they have a complete disregard for
clinical expertise despite the ‘‘claimed’’ daily success of clinicians? Are clinicians oblivious to
the ‘‘evidence’’ and reluctant to change their practice patterns despite research suggesting
that they should? The importance of the issue and the perspectives presented in the 3
contributions below warrant a place on the ‘‘front page’’ instead of the back of the Journal,
where items such as letters to the editor are typically found.
In my role as the editor of the JOSPT over the past 5 years, I have witnessed a clear change in
the contributors of articles and in the types of manuscripts submitted and published in the
Journal, which makes me believe that at least some clinicians and researchers are close enough
to reach across the divide and shake hands. I hope that the following contributions by Dr
Bechtel, Dr Cleland, and Mr Smith will help further accelerate the process of creating
meaningful research and applying these results in daily clinical practice.
Guy Simoneau, PT, PhD, ATC
Editor-in-Chief, JOSPT
Researchers and Clinicians: A Growing Divide or Narrowing Gap?
Taken from:
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy
Official Publication of the Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy Sections of the American Physical Therapy Association
Researchers and Clinicians: A Growing Divide or Narrowing Gap?
Roy Bechtel, PT, PhD1
Joshua A. Cleland, DPT, PhD, OCS2
Britt Smith, MSPT, OCS, FAAOMPT3
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2006;36(7):451–461. doi:10.2519/jospt.2006.0108
This month’s guest editorial is unusual in its format (and length) in that it is
composed of 3 separate contributions. What initially started as a letter to the
editor from Dr Bechtel was supplemented by related opinions from Dr Cleland
and Mr Smith to evolve into a rich and timely discussion about the divide that
seems to exist between physical therapy research and clinical practice. Are
researchers clearly out of touch with clinical reality and do they have a complete disregard for
clinical expertise despite the ‘‘claimed’’ daily success of clinicians? Are clinicians oblivious to
the ‘‘evidence’’ and reluctant to change their practice patterns despite research suggesting
that they should? The importance of the issue and the perspectives presented in the 3
contributions below warrant a place on the ‘‘front page’’ instead of the back of the Journal,
where items such as letters to the editor are typically found.
In my role as the editor of the JOSPT over the past 5 years, I have witnessed a clear change in
the contributors of articles and in the types of manuscripts submitted and published in the
Journal, which makes me believe that at least some clinicians and researchers are close enough
to reach across the divide and shake hands. I hope that the following contributions by Dr
Bechtel, Dr Cleland, and Mr Smith will help further accelerate the process of creating
meaningful research and applying these results in daily clinical practice.
Guy Simoneau, PT, PhD, ATC
Editor-in-Chief, JOSPT
Researchers and Clinicians: A Growing Divide or Narrowing Gap?
