Taken from:<\/p>\n
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy
\nOfficial Publication of the Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy Sections of the American Physical Therapy Association<\/p>\n
Researchers and Clinicians: A Growing Divide or Narrowing Gap?
\nRoy Bechtel, PT, PhD1
\nJoshua A. Cleland, DPT, PhD, OCS2
\nBritt Smith, MSPT, OCS, FAAOMPT3
\nJ Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2006;36(7):451\u00e2\u20ac\u201c461. doi:10.2519\/jospt.2006.0108<\/p>\n
This month\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s guest editorial is unusual in its format (and length) in that it is
\ncomposed of 3 separate contributions. What initially started as a letter to the
\neditor from Dr Bechtel was supplemented by related opinions from Dr Cleland
\nand Mr Smith to evolve into a rich and timely discussion about the divide that
\nseems to exist between physical therapy research and clinical practice. Are
\nresearchers clearly out of touch with clinical reality and do they have a complete disregard for
\nclinical expertise despite the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcclaimed\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 daily success of clinicians? Are clinicians oblivious to
\nthe \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcevidence\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 and reluctant to change their practice patterns despite research suggesting
\nthat they should? The importance of the issue and the perspectives presented in the 3
\ncontributions below warrant a place on the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcfront page\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 instead of the back of the Journal,
\nwhere items such as letters to the editor are typically found.<\/p>\n
In my role as the editor of the JOSPT over the past 5 years, I have witnessed a clear change in
\nthe contributors of articles and in the types of manuscripts submitted and published in the
\nJournal, which makes me believe that at least some clinicians and researchers are close enough
\nto reach across the divide and shake hands. I hope that the following contributions by Dr
\nBechtel, Dr Cleland, and Mr Smith will help further accelerate the process of creating
\nmeaningful research and applying these results in daily clinical practice.
\nGuy Simoneau, PT, PhD, ATC
\nEditor-in-Chief, JOSPT<\/p>\n