research topics for physiotherapy undergraduate

151+ Research Topics For Physiotherapy Students [Updated]

Welcome to the world of physiotherapy, where movement is medicine, and every step leads to healing. In the area of physiotherapy education, research is a powerful tool. It helps us understand the human body better, discover new techniques for rehabilitation, and improve the quality of life for countless individuals. Today, we dive into the diverse and fascinating world of research topics for physiotherapy students.

Whether you’re a student, a curious reader, or someone passionate about health and well-being, this journey promises to be enlightening.

research topics for physiotherapy undergraduate

What is Physiotherapy Research?

Table of Contents

Physiotherapy research is the investigation and exploration of various aspects of physical therapy. It delves into the effectiveness of different treatments, the impact of exercises on specific conditions, and the development of innovative techniques to enhance rehabilitation. This research isn’t just about lab coats and test tubes; it’s about real people, real struggles, and real triumphs.

Why Research Matters in Physiotherapy Education

Research isn’t just an academic exercise—it’s the heartbeat of progress in physiotherapy. For students, engaging in research opens doors to understanding the science behind the practice. It fosters critical thinking, hones problem-solving skills, and prepares future physiotherapists to deliver evidence-based care.

Most importantly, research enhances the quality of care patients receive, ensuring they benefit from the latest advancements in the field.

How Do I Choose A Research Topic For Physiotherapy Students?

Choosing a research topic for physiotherapy students involves several considerations to ensure it aligns with your interests, the field’s needs, and feasibility. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Identify Your Interests
Passion: Choose a topic that genuinely interests you. Your enthusiasm will drive your motivation throughout the research process.
Personal Experience: Reflect on any personal experiences or observations in physiotherapy that sparked your curiosity.
Consider Relevance
Field Needs: Look into current trends and gaps in physiotherapy research. What areas need more exploration or improvement?
Clinical Significance: Choose a topic with practical applications in clinical settings. Will your research contribute to better patient outcomes or practice?
Review Literature
Literature Search: Conduct a thorough literature review to understand what’s been done. Identify gaps where your research can make a valuable contribution.
Read Journals: Explore recent publications in physiotherapy journals to get ideas and understand the latest advancements.
Discuss with Peers and Mentors
Peer Feedback: Discuss potential topics with classmates or colleagues. They might offer insights or suggest areas you hadn’t considered.
Mentor Guidance: Seek advice from professors or experienced researchers. They can guide you towards viable topics and methodologies.
Assess Feasibility
Resources: Consider the resources available to you, such as access to equipment, databases, and funding.
Timeframe: Evaluate the time you have for research. Ensure your topic is manageable within the given timeframe.
Narrow Down and Define
Specificity: Narrow your topic to a specific question or problem. Broad topics can be overwhelming and challenging to research effectively.
Clear Objective: Define a clear research question or hypothesis. This guides your study’s direction and methods.
Brainstorm Potential Topics
Use the Outline: Refer to the outline provided earlier for inspiration. Consider topics in musculoskeletal, neurological, pediatric, geriatric, or cardiovascular physiotherapy.
Innovative Approaches: Explore the use of technology, patient compliance, psychological aspects, or sports-related research.
Evaluate Ethical Considerations
Ethical Approval: Ensure your chosen topic aligns with ethical guidelines. Consider factors like informed consent, patient privacy, and data handling.
Choose Your Topic!
Final Selection: After considering all these factors, select a topic that excites you, addresses a gap in the field, and is feasible within your resources and timeframe.

Remember, choosing a research topic is an exciting journey. Embrace the opportunity to contribute to the field of physiotherapy, improve patient care, and expand your knowledge and skills.

151+ Research Topics For Physiotherapy Students: Category Wise

Musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

Effectiveness of Kinesio Taping in Ankle Sprains
Comparison of Manual Therapy and Exercise for Low Back Pain
The Role of Pilates in Improving Core Strength and Stability
Efficacy of Dry Needling in Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Impact of Virtual Reality on Rehabilitation After ACL Reconstruction
Muscle Imbalance and its Relationship to Injury Risk
Use of Blood Flow Restriction Training in Muscle Rehabilitation
Effectiveness of Cupping Therapy for Musculoskeletal Pain
Effects of Different Running Techniques on Knee Joint Stress
Long-Term Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Muscle Function

Neurological Physiotherapy

Rehabilitation Strategies for Improving Balance in Multiple Sclerosis
Impact of Aquatic Therapy on Motor Function in Parkinson’s Disease
Effectiveness of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy in Stroke Recovery
Virtual Reality for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Stroke Patients
Gait Training Techniques for Individuals with Cerebral Palsy
Neuroplasticity and its Implications for Rehabilitation
Role of Robotics in Neurological Rehabilitation
Effects of Tai Chi on Balance and Fall Prevention in Older Adults with Stroke
Music Therapy for Motor Rehabilitation in Stroke Survivors
Vestibular Rehabilitation in Patients with Vestibular Disorders

Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physiotherapy

Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs: Effectiveness and Adherence Rates
Inspiratory Muscle Training for COPD Patients
Role of Yoga in Improving Cardiovascular Health
Exercise Prescription for Patients with Heart Failure
Effects of High-Altitude Training on Lung Function
Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients with Chronic Respiratory Diseases
Non-Invasive Ventilation in Neuromuscular Disorders
Effects of Smoking Cessation on Respiratory Function
Impact of Breathing Exercises on Asthma Control
Exercise Interventions for Pulmonary Hypertension

Pediatric Physiotherapy

Early Intervention Programs for Children with Developmental Delays
Hydrotherapy for Pediatric Rehabilitation
Motor Learning Strategies in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy in Pediatric Hemiplegia
Sensory Integration Therapy for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder
Effects of Biking on Gross Motor Skills in Children
Role of Play-Based Therapy in Pediatric Rehabilitation
Pediatric Obesity and its Impact on Musculoskeletal Health
Effects of Early Mobility in Preterm Infants
Dance Therapy for Children with Cerebral Palsy

Geriatric Physiotherapy

Falls Risk Assessment and Prevention Strategies in Older Adults
Effectiveness of Chair Yoga in Elderly Fall Prevention
Role of Physical Activity in Cognitive Function in the Elderly
Home-Based Exercise Programs for Aging Adults
Effects of Tai Chi on Balance and Mobility in Elderly
Impact of Nutritional Interventions on Sarcopenia
Role of Multidisciplinary Teams in Geriatric Rehabilitation
Frailty Screening Tools and Interventions
Effects of Ageism on Physical Activity in Older Adults
Dementia and Exercise: Benefits and Challenges

Sports Physiotherapy

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Sports Injuries in Soccer Players
Effectiveness of Taping Techniques in Athletes
Return to Play Guidelines Following ACL Reconstruction
Role of Biomechanics in Running Injury Prevention
Sports-Specific Rehabilitation Protocols
Impact of Sports Specialization on Injury Risk in Youth Athletes
Effects of Cryotherapy on Muscle Recovery
Psychological Factors in Sports Injury Rehabilitation
Nutritional Strategies for Performance Enhancement in Athletes
Role of Physiotherapy in eSports Injury Prevention

Women’s Health and Pelvic Physiotherapy

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Stress Urinary Incontinence
Effects of Pregnancy on Musculoskeletal Health
Postpartum Exercise Programs and Recovery
Role of Physiotherapy in Pelvic Organ Prolapse Management
Chronic Pelvic Pain Management Strategies
Diastasis Recti: Assessment and Rehabilitation
Impact of Menopause on Bone Health and Exercise
Role of Physiotherapy in Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
Pre- and Post-Operative Physiotherapy for Gynecological Surgeries
Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy: Assessment and Treatment

Orthopedic Physiotherapy

Manual Therapy Techniques for Frozen Shoulder
Effects of TENS Therapy on Osteoarthritis Pain
Post-Operative Rehabilitation Following Total Knee Replacement
Role of Physiotherapy in Rotator Cuff Tears
Conservative Management of Lumbar Disc Herniation
Motor Control Exercises for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Effects of PNF Techniques on Range of Motion
Role of Physiotherapy in Ankle Instability
Prehabilitation Programs for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears
Postural Correction Strategies for Neck Pain

Occupational Physiotherapy

Ergonomics and Workplace Injury Prevention
Role of Physiotherapy in Work Rehabilitation Programs
Return to Work Interventions for Musculoskeletal Injuries
Job Demands Analysis and Physical Capacity Assessments
Effects of Standing Desks on Musculoskeletal Health
Role of Physiotherapy in Hand Rehabilitation
Post-Operative Rehabilitation Following Hand Surgery
Workplace Stress and its Impact on Musculoskeletal Health
Functional Capacity Evaluations in Occupational Settings
Role of Physiotherapy in Ergonomic Design Consultations

Pain Management

Multimodal Approaches to Chronic Pain Management
Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Pain Perception
Role of Physiotherapy in Fibromyalgia Management
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain
Pain Neuroscience Education for Patients with Persistent Pain
Effects of Acupuncture on Chronic Low Back Pain
Role of Physiotherapy in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Telehealth for Pain Management
Pain Catastrophizing and its Influence on Treatment Outcomes
Effects of Sleep Quality on Pain Perception

Rehabilitation Technology

Wearable Technology for Monitoring Physical Activity
Virtual Reality for Motor Rehabilitation
Robotics in Rehabilitation: Current Trends and Future Directions
Smart Textiles for Monitoring Muscle Activity
Tele rehabilitation: Benefits and Challenges
3D Printing in Orthopedic Rehabilitation
Biofeedback Systems for Muscle Rehabilitation
Wearable Sensors for Gait Analysis
Virtual Reality for Phantom Limb Pain
Brain-Computer Interfaces in Stroke Rehabilitation

Health Promotion and Wellness

Effects of Exercise on Mental Health and Wellbeing
Role of Physiotherapy in Obesity Management
Exercise Programs for Older Adults in Assisted Living Facilities
Workplace Wellness Programs: Impact on Employee Health
Community-Based Exercise Programs for Cardiovascular Health
Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Stress Reduction
Role of Physiotherapy in Smoking Cessation Programs
Nutritional Counseling for Chronic Disease Prevention
Exercise Prescription for Mental Health Disorders
Impact of Social Support on Physical Activity Adherence

Rehabilitation in Specific Populations

Effects of Exercise on Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women
Role of Physiotherapy in Refugee Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation Needs of LGBTQ+ Individuals
Cultural Competence in Physiotherapy Practice
Effects of Exercise on Immune Function in Cancer Patients
Role of Physiotherapy in Prison Rehabilitation Programs
Rehabilitation Challenges in Homeless Populations
Effects of Exercise on Quality of Life in HIV/AIDS Patients
Role of Physiotherapy in Rehabilitation After Human Trafficking
Exercise Programs for Individuals with Disabilities

Innovative Approaches in Rehabilitation

Biofeedback Training for Improving Motor Control
Effects of Exergaming on Physical Function in Older Adults
Role of Photobiomodulation Therapy in Tissue Healing
Virtual Reality for Pain Management in Burn Patients
Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Role of AI and Machine Learning in Rehabilitation
Effects of Hippotherapy on Balance and Coordination
Role of Music Therapy in Rehabilitation
Hydrogen Water Therapy for Musculoskeletal Injuries
Role of Graded Motor Imagery in Chronic Pain Rehabilitation

Ethics and Professionalism in Physiotherapy

Informed Consent Practices in Physiotherapy Research
Confidentiality in Telehealth Consultations
Role of Physiotherapists in Health Advocacy
Ethical Considerations in Exercise Prescription
Cultural Competence in Patient Care
Role of Physiotherapists in End-of-Life Care
Patient Autonomy and Shared Decision-Making in Treatment
Professional Boundaries in Physiotherapy Practice
Ethical Implications of Social Media Use for Physiotherapists
Conflict of Interest in Physiotherapy Research

Global Health and Physiotherapy

Role of Physiotherapists in Disaster Relief Efforts
Health Disparities in Access to Physiotherapy Services
Physiotherapy in Low-Resource Settings: Challenges and Solutions
Cross-Cultural Communication in Physiotherapy Practice
Role of Physiotherapists in Addressing Climate Change Health Impacts

Ethical Considerations in Physiotherapy Research

Informed Consent: Ensuring patients fully understand the research and voluntarily agree to participate.
Confidentiality of Patient Information: Safeguarding patient privacy and protecting their personal data.
Data Collection and Storage: Using secure methods to collect, store, and analyze research data.
Research Ethics Committee Approval: Obtaining ethical approval before conducting any research involving human participants.

Research in physiotherapy is a dynamic and essential part of the field. For students embarking on their research journeys, the possibilities are limitless.

From improving rehabilitation techniques to enhancing patient care, each study contributes to a brighter, healthier future.

So whether you’re intrigued by the mysteries of the musculoskeletal system or fascinated by the potential of technology in therapy, there are research topics for physiotherapy students waiting for you to explore. Together, let’s continue pushing the boundaries of knowledge and empowering individuals to move, heal, and thrive.

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111+ Top Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

Physiotherapy is a dynamic and evolving field that plays a crucial role in the healthcare industry. Physiotherapists are responsible for helping individuals regain their physical abilities, improve their quality of life, and manage various musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiovascular conditions. For physiotherapy students, conducting research is an essential part of their academic journey. It allows them to explore emerging trends, contribute to the field’s knowledge base, and develop critical thinking skills.

In this blog, we will provide you with a diverse list of research topics for physiotherapy students. These topics span various sub-disciplines within physiotherapy, including musculoskeletal, neurological, pediatric, sports, and cardiorespiratory physiotherapy, among others. Whether you are an undergraduate or postgraduate student, you will find intriguing research ideas that can serve as a starting point for your academic journey.

If you’re looking for assistance with your studies, consider exploring our service, designed to provide you with the guidance and resources you need to thrive in your academic journey.

What are the Research Topics in Physiotherapy?

Table of Contents

Research topics in physiotherapy refer to specific areas or questions that students and researchers aim to investigate, analyze, and contribute to through scientific inquiry. These topics are essential for advancing the profession and improving patient care. They can encompass a wide range of subjects within the field of physiotherapy, including musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary, and pediatric aspects, among others.

Importance of Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

Research topics are a cornerstone of physiotherapy education for several reasons:

Advancement of Knowledge

Research topics drive the development of new knowledge and evidence-based practices in physiotherapy. By conducting research, students contribute to the body of evidence that informs clinical decision-making.

Skill Development

Engaging in research hones critical thinking, problem-solving, and data analysis skills. These skills are invaluable for students’ future careers as physiotherapists.

Patient Care Improvement

Research helps identify better treatment approaches, leading to improved patient outcomes. Physiotherapy students who engage in research can directly impact the well-being of their future patients.

Career Opportunities

Participation in research projects enhances a student’s resume and opens doors to academic and clinical career opportunities. Employers often value research experience when hiring.

Professional Growth

Research topics provide students with opportunities to collaborate with experienced researchers and faculty, fostering professional growth and networking.

How do I Choose a Topic for Physiotherapy Research?

Before know the research topics for physiotherapy students, you need to know tips for choosing topic. Selecting the right research topic is crucial for a successful research journey. Here are some steps to guide you in choosing a research topic in physiotherapy:

1. Identify Your Interests

Start by considering your personal interests within the field of physiotherapy. What aspect of physiotherapy excites you the most? Your passion will fuel your motivation throughout the research process.

2. Review Current Literature

Conduct a thorough literature review to understand what research has already been done in your chosen area. This will help you identify gaps in knowledge and potential research questions.

3. Consult with Mentors

Seek guidance from experienced faculty members or mentors. They can provide valuable insights and help you refine your research topic.

4. Consider Feasibility

Assess the resources, time, and access you have to conduct your research. Ensure that your chosen topic is feasible within your constraints.

5. Think About Impact

Consider the potential impact of your research. Will it contribute to the field? Will it benefit patients or fellow practitioners?

6. Narrow it Down

Once you’ve brainstormed ideas, narrow your focus to a specific research question. A well-defined question will make your research more manageable.

7. Research Ethics

Ensure that your chosen topic adheres to ethical guidelines and respects patient confidentiality and informed consent.

Observational Research Topics for undergraduate Physiotherapy Students

Discover the research topics for physiotherapy students in different fields:

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Research Topics

1. The efficacy of manual therapy in treating chronic lower back pain.

2. Investigating the role of exercise in preventing and managing osteoarthritis.

3. Assessing the effectiveness of various stretching techniques in improving flexibility.

4. Examining the impact of resistance training on muscle strength and function in the elderly.

5. Comparing different rehabilitation approaches for post-surgical ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) reconstruction.

6. The relationship between muscle imbalances and the risk of sports-related injuries.

7. Investigating the use of taping techniques in the management of rotator cuff injuries.

8. The effects of aquatic therapy on pain and function in individuals with fibromyalgia.

9. Assessing the long-term outcomes of physical therapy for scoliosis management.

10. Exploring the benefits of prehabilitation exercises before joint replacement surgery.

Neurological Physiotherapy Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

1. The effectiveness of constraint-induced movement therapy in stroke rehabilitation.

2. Investigating the role of virtual reality in improving balance and mobility in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

3. Assessing the impact of early intervention in infants with cerebral palsy.

4. Exploring the use of robotics in gait training for spinal cord injury patients.

5. The effects of mirror therapy on phantom limb pain in amputees.

6. Investigating the use of functional electrical stimulation in spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

7. Assessing the efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation in the treatment of vertigo.

8. The role of physical therapy in managing spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients.

9. Exploring the benefits of hippotherapy for children with autism spectrum disorder.

10. The impact of balance training on fall prevention in the elderly with Parkinson’s disease.

Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Research Topics

1. The effects of aerobic exercise on pulmonary function in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

2. Investigating the role of cardiac rehabilitation in improving quality of life after heart surgery.

3. Assessing the benefits of inspiratory muscle training in patients with asthma.

4. The impact of breathing techniques on anxiety and stress in patients with panic disorders.

5. Exploring the use of pulmonary rehabilitation in lung cancer patients.

6. Investigating the effects of home-based exercise programs in heart failure patients.

7. Assessing the role of physical therapy in reducing hospital readmissions for COPD patients.

8. The efficacy of airway clearance techniques in cystic fibrosis management.

9. Exploring the benefits of aerobic training in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

10. Investigating the impact of diaphragmatic breathing exercises on sleep quality in patients with sleep apnea.

Pediatric Physiotherapy Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

1. The effectiveness of early intervention in children with developmental delays.

2. Investigating the role of physical therapy in improving motor skills in children with Down syndrome.

3. Assessing the impact of aquatic therapy in pediatric cerebral palsy patients.

4. The effects of vestibular rehabilitation in children with balance and coordination issues.

5. Exploring the benefits of hippotherapy in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

6. Investigating the use of virtual reality in pediatric physical therapy for pain management.

7. Assessing the efficacy of constraint-induced movement therapy in pediatric stroke patients.

8. The role of sensory integration therapy in children with sensory processing disorders.

9. Exploring the impact of early mobility interventions in neonatal intensive care units.

10. The effects of adapted sports and recreational activities on the physical and social development of children with disabilities.

Sports Physiotherapy Research Topics

1. The impact of eccentric training on preventing hamstring injuries in athletes.

2. Investigating the effectiveness of Kinesio taping in the treatment of sports-related injuries.

3. Assessing the role of sports-specific training programs in improving athletic performance.

4. The effects of cryotherapy on muscle recovery in elite athletes.

5. Exploring the benefits of neuromuscular training in preventing ACL injuries in female athletes.

6. Investigating the use of biomechanical analysis in optimizing running gait for long-distance runners.

7. Assessing the impact of pre-season conditioning programs on injury rates in contact sports.

8. The role of sports physiotherapy in concussion management and return-to-play protocols.

9. Exploring the effects of different warm-up protocols on sprint performance in sprinters.

10. Investigating the benefits of sport-specific rehabilitation in professional athletes.

Geriatric Physiotherapy Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

1. The effects of strength training on frailty and falls in elderly individuals.

2. Investigating the role of physical therapy in improving mobility and independence in nursing home residents.

3. Assessing the impact of balance training on reducing the risk of hip fractures in the elderly.

4. Exploring the benefits of telerehabilitation for older adults in rural areas.

5. The efficacy of home-based exercise programs in maintaining cognitive function in seniors.

6. Investigating the use of technology-assisted interventions for seniors with chronic conditions.

7. Assessing the role of aquatic therapy in improving the quality of life for elderly individuals with arthritis.

8. The effects of chair yoga on flexibility and pain management in older adults.

9. Exploring the impact of multidisciplinary geriatric assessments on healthcare outcomes.

10. The benefits of community-based exercise programs for promoting social engagement in seniors.

Women’s Health Physiotherapy Research Topics

1. The effectiveness of pelvic floor exercises in managing urinary incontinence.

2. Investigating the role of physical therapy in prenatal and postpartum care.

3. Assessing the impact of exercise interventions on menstrual cycle irregularities in athletes.

4. Exploring the benefits of manual therapy in treating endometriosis-related pain.

5. The effects of core strengthening exercises in reducing low back pain during pregnancy.

6. Investigating the use of biofeedback in pelvic floor rehabilitation.

7. Assessing the role of physical therapy in improving sexual function in postmenopausal women.

8. The efficacy of exercise programs in managing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

9. Exploring the impact of posture and ergonomics on breast health and musculoskeletal issues.

10. The benefits of physical therapy in the management of fibromyalgia in women.

Orthopedic Physiotherapy Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

1. The effects of early mobilization after orthopedic surgery on recovery and complications.

2. Investigating the role of physical therapy in post-fracture rehabilitation.

3. Assessing the impact of manual therapy in treating frozen shoulder.

4. Exploring the benefits of proprioceptive training in ankle sprain prevention and rehabilitation.

5. The efficacy of conservative versus surgical treatment for rotator cuff tears.

6. Investigating the use of shockwave therapy in the management of tendinopathies.

7. Assessing the role of physical therapy in the rehabilitation of joint replacement surgery patients.

8. The effects of different bracing techniques in scoliosis management.

9. Exploring the benefits of postural correction exercises in individuals with kyphosis.

10. The impact of neuromuscular training on patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).

Occupational Health Physiotherapy Research Topics

1. The effectiveness of ergonomic interventions in preventing workplace musculoskeletal disorders.

2. Investigating the role of physical therapy in managing work-related neck and upper limb pain.

3. Assessing the impact of workplace wellness programs on employee health and productivity.

4. Exploring the benefits of early intervention for repetitive strain injuries (RSI).

5. The effects of workstation modifications on reducing lower back pain in office workers.

6. Investigating the use of therapeutic exercise in the rehabilitation of work-related injuries.

7. Assessing the role of physical therapy in improving work-related stress and mental health.

8. The efficacy of return-to-work programs for individuals with disabilities.

9. Exploring the impact of job-specific functional assessments on return-to-work outcomes.

10. The benefits of telerehabilitation for occupational health patients.

11. Assessing the effectiveness of ergonomic interventions in preventing workplace musculoskeletal disorders among remote workers.

Pain Management Physiotherapy Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

1. The effects of mindfulness-based interventions in chronic pain management.

2. Investigating the role of physical therapy in treating myofascial pain syndrome.

3. Assessing the impact of exercise therapy in reducing neuropathic pain.

4. Exploring the benefits of aquatic therapy in fibromyalgia pain relief.

5. The efficacy of graded motor imagery in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) treatment.

6. Investigating the use of dry needling in the management of trigger points.

7. Assessing the role of physical therapy in chronic headache management.

8. The effects of spinal manipulation in the treatment of non-specific low back pain.

9. Exploring the impact of pain education and self-management programs.

10. The benefits of interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation programs.

11. Investigating the impact of music therapy on pain management in chronic pain patients.

Rehabilitation Technology Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

1. Investigating the use of wearable devices in monitoring and enhancing rehabilitation outcomes.

2. Assessing the impact of telerehabilitation on patient adherence and outcomes.

3. Exploring the benefits of exoskeleton-assisted gait training in spinal cord injury patients.

4. The effects of virtual reality-based rehabilitation on motor recovery after stroke.

5. The role of robotics in upper limb rehabilitation for stroke survivors.

6. Investigating the use of brain-computer interfaces in neurorehabilitation.

7. Assessing the impact of gamification in pediatric rehabilitation.

8. Exploring the benefits of biofeedback and neurofeedback in rehabilitation.

9. The efficacy of tele-physiotherapy for rural and underserved populations.

10. Investigating the integration of artificial intelligence in rehabilitation assessment and planning.

11. Exploring the benefits of 3D printing technology in creating customized orthotic devices for rehabilitation.

Research topics in physiotherapy are a gateway to advancing the profession and improving patient care. They provide students with opportunities to develop critical skills, contribute to the body of knowledge, and make a positive impact on the lives of individuals seeking rehabilitation. Choosing the right research topic is a crucial step, and it should align with your interests, the current state of knowledge, and the resources available to you.

The research topics for physiotherapy students we’ve explored in this guide cover a wide range of physiotherapy specialties, from musculoskeletal and neurological to cardiopulmonary and pediatric. Whether you’re passionate about helping athletes prevent injuries or improving the quality of life for elderly individuals, there’s a research topic that suits your interests.

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100+ Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students in 2022

Team Desklib

Published: 2022-08-18

The physiotherapy profession has addressed the significance of teaching students the fundamentals and applications of research through its published educational accreditation criteria and normative model of professional education.

The goal of Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students is to conduct a long-term study of students in relation to their perception of research knowledge, perception of the best source to use when making clinical decisions, and their perception of the best tools to use when managing patients in a clinical setting.

How Physiotherapy Students can Choose Manageable Research Topics?

Discover what is already known about your issue and what unanswered research questions exist after reviewing it. The most recent literature will likely be the source of your research question.

What details and research remain on your problem? Which publications you discovered have you had "implications for future research"? Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students can take many different forms. Let's go through these topics one by one -

Some Advance Physiotherapy Research Topics

A randomised control experiment evaluating the effectiveness of shortwave diathermy in treating knee osteoarthritis.
A randomized control trial of manual therapy for treating vertigo.
Kinesiotaping is used to treat persistent low back pain.
Manual therapy's effects on the treatment of SI joint pain in postpartum women
Low back pain management with infrared therapy.
A controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of short-wave diathermy with infrared therapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain.
Exercises for stretching and strengthening to address forward head position.
Kinesiotaping for female population bladder issues
Kinesiotaping's effectiveness in treating patellofemoral pain syndrome.
Results of a randomized control experiment on the effects of shock wave therapy for migraine management.
A comparison of the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation with the interferential current for the treatment of shoulder pain.
Phonophoresis for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized control trial study.
Prenatal exercise program's effectiveness in treating neck and shoulder discomfort
Contrasting the results of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation with the interferential current.
An analysis of the effectiveness of a prenatal exercise program for the treatment of low back pain.
Competitive research on the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential current for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis.
Effects of phonophoresis for the treatment of neck pain: a randomized control experiment.
For the treatment of medial epicondylitis, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is used, and the effects of interferential current are compared.
A comparison of the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation with the interferential current for the treatment of persistent pelvic pain.
A randomized control experiment evaluating the effects of phonophoresis on the treatment of SI joint discomfort.
Contrasting the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential current for the treatment of sacroiliac joint pain.
Interferential current in a randomized controlled trial for the treatment of pain following total knee replacement.
Exercises to strengthen the core and correct posture are used to address acute occupational low back pain.
Frozen shoulder treatment with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and a comparative investigation of the effects of interferential current.
A Study at an Indian Primary School on Inclusive Education Environments from the Teachers' Perspective.
Learning methodologies and their relationship to self-study time are compared between students in a lecture-based curriculum and those who use problem-based learning.

Conclusion -

In this descriptive study of professional physiotherapy students, we sought to evaluate the students' self-reported feelings of comfort and confidence in reading and apply research findings published in the literature, their personal reading habits, and their general beliefs about the value of research to their professional careers and of basing clinical practise on research findings.

Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students show that although there were noticeable improvements by the program's conclusion, attitudes about research have not changed permanently in areas like individual motivation for participation in research and the importance that physical therapists accord to research.

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Physiotherapy Dissertation Topics – Industry-Oriented Suggestions

Published by Grace Graffin at January 4th, 2023 , Revised On May 3, 2024

Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession that deals with movement disorders of the body arising from different conditions. Physiotherapy focuses on performing practices that reduce physical ailments without going through surgery or traditional medication. There are many other practices related to physiotherapy, such as chiropractic treatment, but they do not fall under the umbrella of physiotherapy. A person who performs physiotherapy is known as a physiotherapist.

To become a physiotherapist, you must complete a physiotherapy degree course. But, of course, you cannot become a professional physiotherapist unless you do not complete it. In order to complete your degree, it is mandatory to complete the most important and considerably hard dissertation.

If you are finding it ambiguous and uncertain about starting your dissertation, you can look at some of the current, striking, and potential topics suggested by our PhD scholars at ResearchProspect.

You may also want to start your dissertation by requesting a brief research proposal from our writers on any of these topics, which includes an introduction to the topic, research question, aim and objectives, literature review, and the proposed methodology of research to be conducted. Let us know if you need any help in getting started.

Check our dissertation examples to get an idea of how to structure your dissertation .

Review the full list of dissertation topics here.

Want to know what essay structure and style will work best for your assignment?

Problem fixed! We can write any type of essay in any referencing style. We ensure every essay written is beyond your expectations.

Physiotherapy Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: an evaluation of the impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in repairing cutaneous injury.

Research Aim: The research aims to evaluate the impact of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Repairing Cutaneous Injury.

Objectives:

To analyse the concept of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy used in physiotherapy.
To evaluate the impact of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on the duration of healing and postinjury complications.
To investigate the impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in repairing cutaneous injury.

Topic 2: A comparison of the effectiveness of underwater aerobic exercises and manual knee exercises in the rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis.

Research Aim: The research aims to compare the effectiveness of underwater aerobic exercises and manual knee exercises in the rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis.

To analyse the mechanisms of administering underwater aerobic exercises and manual knee exercises.
To evaluate the methods of rehabilitating knee osteoarthritis.
To establish a comparison between underwater aerobic exercises and manual knee exercises in terms of their effectiveness for rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis.

Topic 3: An investigation into the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound and resistance training for rheumatoid arthritis.

Research Aim: The research aims to investigate the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound and resistance training for rheumatoid arthritis.

To analyse the areas of application of therapeutic ultrasound and resistance training in physiotherapy.
To analyse the physiotherapy approaches for treating rheumatoid arthritis pain.
To investigate the impact of therapeutic ultrasound and resistance training on treating rheumatoid arthritis pain to determine their effectiveness.

Topic 4: Evaluating the impact of strengthening exercises on diabetic patients with shoulder pain.

Research Aim: The aim of the research will be to evaluate the impact of strengthening exercises on diabetic patients with shoulder pain.

To determine the benefits of strengthening exercises on patients with pain.
To analyse if any additional precatory measures are required while rehabilitating diabetic patients.
To evaluate the impact of strengthening exercises on diabetic patients with shoulder pain.

Topic 5: An analysis of the implications of strengthening exercises on alleviation of lower back pain and cervical pain.

Research Aim: An analysis of the implications of strengthening exercises on the alleviation of lower back pain and cervical pain.

To determine the types of strengthening exercises in physiotherapy for pain relief.
To analyse the causes of lower back pain and cervical pain in patients and the common methods of treatment.
To investigate the impact of strengthening exercises on the alleviation of lower back pain and cervical pain.

Topic. 6: Physiotherapy vs. chiropractic

Research Aim: There are many similar practices to physiotherapy; one of them is chiropractic. It deals with the diagnosis and treatment of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine. The chiropractic health care system was founded on the basis that the human body’s health is determined by its nervous system.

The aim of the research would be to find out the difference between physiography and chiropractic. The researcher will identify the differences and similarities between both professions, types, and methodologies and identify the ways they resemble or differentiate.

Topic. 7: Why Physiotherapy is beneficial

Research Aim: There are ongoing discussions regarding physiotherapy and its benefits. The research will identify how physiotherapy is beneficial for the body and aim to make new revelations by experimenting with certain bodily impairments.

Topic. 8: Future of physiotherapy

Research Aim: Physiotherapy is the best way to get treatment for injuries as the results are permanent and provide complete relief. It is the best alternative for people who do not want to take heavy doses of medicines. However, whether it will remain as significant in the future as it is today is a big question to address. The researcher will focus on the current trends and forecasts in the field of physiotherapy and find out how far this discipline will go and how long it can remain useful for humans.

Topic. 9: Physiotherapy vs. Orthopedic surgery

Research Aim: Physiotherapy and orthopaedic surgery are two different ways to treat acute injuries in bones, joints, and their associated soft tissues. The research will focus on differentiating the practices of physiotherapy and orthopaedic surgery.

Topic. 10: Effectiveness of mirror therapy for stroke patients

Research Aim: Mirror therapy is a kind of therapy in which a mirror is placed between the arms or legs to make an image of the moving limb and give an impression of normal movement of the affected limb. It is said that rehabilitation therapy is effective for stroke patients. The research paper will aim to find out the level of effectiveness of mirror therapy for stroke patients.

Topic. 11: Physiotherapy for athletes

Research Aim: Physiotherapy has a wide range of uses; it is vitally important on and off the field for athletes and sportsmen. The research will aim to find out the significance of physiotherapy for athletes, how it is used, why it is used, and what are the preferable techniques by worldwide athletes.

Topic. 12: Effective methods of physiotherapy

Research Aim: The aim of the research is to probe all methods and techniques of physiotherapy and identify the most effective methods of all. The researcher will do qualitative research and present the best types of physiotherapy for specific conditions and situations.

Topic. 13: Physiotherapy vs. other medical treatments

Research Aim: There are still many people who find physiotherapy more effective than other medical treatments, and to some, it is inverse. The aim of the research is to juxtapose physiotherapy with other types of related medical treatment and determine which one of them, in a true sense, is effective.

Also Read: Medicine and Nursing Dissertation Topics

Topic. 14: Physiotherapy and lower back pain

Research Aim: Lower back pain is one of the most common types of pain that people suffer from during their middle and young age. Lower back pain ranges from mild to chronic pain that can last forever. Lower back pain is usually treated with physical therapy. The main aim of the research is to find the extent to which physiotherapy is effective in treating lower back pain and in which conditions it is the most effective.

Topic. 15: Ankylosing spondylitis and physiotherapy

Research Aim: Ankylosing spondylitis is a common inflammatory disease that can fuse some of the bones in the spine. As a result, the spine becomes less flexible and causes pain when sitting, standing, and moving, leading to a hunched posture. The aim of the research is to find out if physiotherapy can help relieve ankylosing spondylitis.

Topic. 16: Physiotherapy for knee replacement

Research Aim: Knee replacement is a surgical procedure carried out on patients with severe pain and immobilisation in their knee joint. The procedure is only recommended for severe cases, and the mild cases can be treated in other ways; the research will aim to find if physiotherapy can be an alternative to knee replacement.

Topic. 17: Physiotherapy equipment and their uses

Research Aim: The way there are many strategies and types of physiotherapy, and so are the equipment and tools. The research will study different kinds of physiotherapy and their uses. The main aim of the research is to find if the same or different tools are used for the same method around the world.

Topic. 18: Physiotherapy and stress control

Research Aim: While physiotherapy has a lot to do with the physical body, it can also relieve the mind and help unwind mental stress. The research will carry out thorough research to find out how physiotherapy helps stress control and how often one can see a physiotherapist to unwind mental strain.

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Topic. 19: Technology and physiotherapy

Research Aim: Since technology has taken over and substituted human practices with technology-led machines, it is necessary to understand technological advancements in the field of physiotherapy. The advancements can range from tools to practices. The research will focus on learning about the current technological advancements in the field and the future prospects.

Topic. 20: Post-accident physiotherapy

Research Aim: Post-traumatic disorder is one of the common results of experiencing a highly traumatic accident. Therefore, it is highly essential to recover and stabilise oneself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Physiotherapy is said to be one of the most effective techniques for helping people get over trauma. The research will study the level of effectiveness of post-accident physiotherapy. The research can do a case study to drive accurate results.

Topic. 21: Equine physiotherapy

Research Aim: A type of physiotherapy, equine physiotherapy, is not widely understood. The aim of the research is to explore and understand equine physiotherapy, its practice, and its significance for humans.

Topic. 22: Physiotherapy and fibromyalgia

Research Aim: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that affects people severely. Patients experience pain and stiffness in the muscles. While fibromyalgia does not damage the joints or organs, constant aches and fatigue become part of normal life. The aim of the research is to study fibromyalgia and the role of physiotherapy in its treatment.

Topic. 23: Physiotherapy and massage therapy

Research Aim: Physiotherapy and massage are not interchangeable terms that very few people know about. The research will throw light on the specialities and specific details of each of the practices and differentiate them from each other.

Topic. 24: Yoga for physiotherapy patients

Research Aim: Yoga has gained immense attention lately. Yoga is recommended for teens, youngsters, elders, and pregnant women, but this research will discover if it is beneficial for physiotherapy patients.

Topic. 25: Physiotherapy, its history, and specialities

In order to understand the roots of physiotherapy, it is important to delve into its conventional practices. The research will study and investigate the history of physiotherapy and its specialities; it will evaluate if it is still practised the same or different in the 21st century.

You may also be interested in medicine dissertation topics, mental health dissertation topics , physical health & education dissertation topics , and healthcare dissertation topics.

List of Trending Dissertation Topics on Physiotherapy

The Role of Physiotherapy in the Management of Chronic Pain Conditions
An Analysis of Exercise Therapy in Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs
Physiotherapy Interventions for Improving Balance and Preventing Falls in Older Adults
Investigating the Role of Manual Therapy in the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Disorders
The Impact of Prehabilitation on Postoperative Outcomes in Orthopedic Surgery Patients
The Role of Physiotherapy in Enhancing Respiratory Function in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Investigating the Effects of Exercise Therapy on Mental Health and Well-being
The Role of Physiotherapy in the Management of Sports Injuries
Exploring the Use of Biomechanical Analysis in Optimising Gait Rehabilitation
Manual Therapy Techniques for the Treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Physiotherapy Interventions for Improving Functional Mobility in Stroke Survivors
The Role of Acupuncture in Physiotherapy Practice for Pain Management
Investigating the Effects of Exercise Therapy on Quality of Life in Cancer Patients
Role of Physiotherapy in the Management of Postural Dysfunction and Ergonomics Awareness
Investigating the Effectiveness of Hydrotherapy in Rehabilitation Programs
Physiotherapy Interventions for Improving Functional Independence in Parkinson’s Disease Patients
Assessing the Role of Psychological Interventions in Physiotherapy Practice for Chronic Pain Management
Investigating the Role of Exercise Therapy in the Prevention and Management of Osteoporosis
The Impact of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Pain Perception and Functional Outcomes
Physiotherapy Approaches for Managing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
Investigating the Effects of Aquatic Therapy on Physical Function and Pain Relief
The Role of Physiotherapy in the Management of Post-Concussion Syndrome
Exploring the Role of Exercise Therapy in Improving Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Investigating the Role of Physiotherapy in Preparing Patients for Joint Replacement Surgery: Prehabilitation Strategies

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How to find physiotherapy dissertation topics.

To discover physiotherapy dissertation topics:

Research recent advancements.
Address healthcare challenges.
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Review patient outcomes and therapies.
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Pick a topic aligning with your passion and research potential.

99+ Captivating Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

Discover compelling research topics for physiotherapy students. Dive into ideas that enhance patient care and deepen your understanding of areas such as muscles, nerves, aging, and sports injuries. Begin making a difference today!

Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in improving movement and well-being. This guide will help you identify intriguing research topics that can elevate patient care.

From exploring muscle function and nerve pathways to understanding the effects of aging and managing sports injuries, this list is designed to inspire and guide you.

Let’s delve into physiotherapy research and work together to make a meaningful impact!

Table of Contents

Research Topics for Physiotherapy PDF

What is research in physiotherapy.

Physiotherapy research aims to improve movement and function. It looks at how therapies work, injury causes, and patient impact.

Key areas include

Biomechanics: Preventing injuries through movement analysis.
Neuroscience: Enhancing treatments for nerve conditions.
Musculoskeletal Health: Treating muscle and joint issues.
Cardiopulmonary Rehab: Boosting heart and lung function.
Geriatrics: Meeting the needs of older adults.
Pediatrics: Addressing physical issues in children.
Health Services: Improving how physiotherapy is delivered.

The goal is to better patient care and advance the field.

Importance of research in physiotherapy

Research is essential for advancing physiotherapy. Here’s why:

Evidence-Based Practice

Informed Decisions: Ensures treatments are effective and safe.
Better Care: Helps in choosing the best interventions.

Improved Patient Outcomes

Effective Treatments: Leads to new and better methods.
Reduced Pain: Develops targeted solutions for symptoms.

Advancing the Profession

Expanded Knowledge: Grows the field’s understanding.
Identifies Gaps: Shows where more research is needed.

Cost-Effectiveness

Efficient Use: Finds cost-effective treatments.
Prevents Re-injury: Helps reduce healthcare costs.

Professional Development

Lifelong Learning: Encourages ongoing learning.
Career Growth: Enhances career opportunities.

Research invests in better care and the future of physiotherapy.

Benefits of undertaking research projects

Research benefits physiotherapy students in several ways:

Personal Growth

Critical Thinking: Enhances problem-solving skills.
Research Skills: Teaches design, data collection, and analysis.
Communication: Improves writing and speaking.
Time Management: Develops organizational skills.

Professional Advancement

Evidence-Based Practice: Deepens clinical decision-making.
Career Opportunities: Strengthens your CV and opens job doors.
Networking: Builds professional connections.
Lifelong Learning: Promotes ongoing education.

Contribution to the Field

Advancing Knowledge: Adds to physiotherapy insights.
Identifying Gaps: Points out areas for further research.
Impact on Practice: Influences clinical guidelines.

Research helps you grow personally, advance professionally, and make a meaningful impact.

Understanding Research in Physiotherapy

Let’s understand research in physiotherapy:-

Types of Research

Qualitative research.

Focus: Subjective experiences.
Methods: Interviews, observations.
Example: Patients’ views on chronic pain.

Quantitative Research

Focus: Numerical data.
Methods: Surveys, experiments.
Example: Comparing exercise programs for knee pain.

Mixed Methods Research

Focus: Combines qualitative and quantitative.
Methods: Both numerical and feedback.
Example: Evaluating therapy with outcomes and patient feedback.

Research Methodologies

Experimental research.

Tests cause-and-effect by changing variables.
Example: New versus standard therapy.

Observational Research

Watches and records without changing variables.
Example: Gait patterns in Parkinson’s patients.

Survey Research

Collects data through questionnaires.
Example: Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain.

Ethical Considerations

Informed Consent: Participants must agree and understand the study.
Beneficence: Maximize benefits, minimize harm.
Non-maleficence: Avoid causing harm.
Justice: Ensure fairness and no discrimination.
Confidentiality: Keep data private.

Following these principles ensures research integrity and protects participants.

Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

Check out research topics for Physiotheraphy students;-

Survey Research Topics

Patient satisfaction.

Experiences with physiotherapy services
Satisfaction with treatment outcomes

Access to Care

Barriers to accessing physiotherapy
Impact of insurance restrictions

Exercise Adherence

Factors affecting home exercise adherence
Strategies to improve compliance

Public Awareness

Knowledge of physiotherapy benefits
Understanding of when to seek physiotherapy

Telehealth Effectiveness

Experiences with telehealth physiotherapy
Outcomes of virtual versus in-person sessions

Perceived Effectiveness

Opinions on various physiotherapy treatments
Effectiveness of specific interventions

Insurance Impact

How insurance affects access to physiotherapy
Financial challenges faced by patients

Referral Processes

Effectiveness of current referral systems
Barriers in the referral process

Patient Education

Impact of educational materials on patient knowledge
Effectiveness of educational interventions

Post-Treatment Outcomes

Long-term satisfaction after physiotherapy
Changes in quality of life post-treatment

Orthopedic Physiotherapy Research Topics

Post-surgery rehab.

Rehab protocols after orthopedic surgeries
Comparative effectiveness of rehab methods

Osteoarthritis Treatment

Exercise therapy for osteoarthritis
Impact of lifestyle changes on osteoarthritis

Fracture Recovery

Physiotherapy techniques for fracture recovery
Comparison of rehab methods

Shoulder Impingement

Manual vs. exercise therapy for shoulder impingement
Long-term outcomes of different treatments

Spinal Injuries

Rehab methods for spinal cord injuries
Efficacy of various interventions

Tendinopathy

Treatments for chronic tendinopathy
Impact of different therapies

Hip Replacement Rehab

Rehab techniques post-hip replacement
Effectiveness of different rehab protocols

Knee Osteoarthritis

Exercise protocols for knee osteoarthritis
Comparison of conservative and surgical approaches

Elbow Injury Rehab

Physiotherapy approaches for elbow injuries
Outcomes of different treatment methods

Ankle Sprain Rehab

Rehab techniques for ankle sprains
Effectiveness of early vs. late intervention

Observational Research Topics

Gait analysis.

Observation of gait patterns in different conditions
Impact of interventions on gait

Exercise Compliance

Monitoring adherence to prescribed exercises
Factors influencing compliance

Functional Movements

Recording movement patterns post-injury
Changes in movement quality over time

Posture and Pain

Observing the link between posture and back pain
Effectiveness of posture correction techniques

Recovery Tracking

Documenting recovery progress in therapy
Variations in recovery rates

Pain Management Response

Observing responses to different pain management techniques
Impact on overall pain levels

Movement Quality

Analyzing movement quality in motor impairments
Effectiveness of therapeutic interventions

Balance Improvements

Studying balance improvements in vestibular disorders
Impact of balance training on functional outcomes

Exercise Technique Adherence

Monitoring adherence to proper exercise techniques
Common errors and their impact

Therapist-Patient Interaction

Assessing interactions and their impact on therapy outcomes
Communication strategies and effectiveness

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Research Topics

Low back pain.

Treatments for chronic low back pain
Comparative effectiveness of different therapies

Rotator Cuff Rehab

Methods for rotator cuff injury recovery
Impact of surgical vs. non-surgical treatments

Sports Injuries

Rehab for sports-related injuries
Effectiveness of specific injury management strategies

Muscle Strength

Strengthening exercises for musculoskeletal disorders
Impact on function and pain reduction

Postural Control

Interventions for improving postural control
Effectiveness in various conditions
Comparative rehab methods after orthopedic surgery
Long-term outcomes of different approaches

Joint Mobilization

Techniques for joint mobilization
Effectiveness in treating joint dysfunctions

Chronic Tendon Injuries

Treatments for chronic tendon injuries
Rehabilitation outcomes and strategies

Functional Rehab

Techniques for functional rehabilitation
Impact on daily activities and quality of life

Manual Therapy

Effectiveness of manual therapy techniques
Comparison with other treatment modalities

Geriatric Physiotherapy Research Topics

Falls prevention.

Exercise programs and home modifications
Balance training in Parkinson’s disease

Osteoporosis

Exercise therapy and vitamin D for bone health
Fall prevention programs and fracture risk

Balance Training

Balance training interventions in older adults
Impact on mobility and fall risk

Mobility Enhancement

Interventions for improving mobility in the elderly
Strategies for maintaining independence

Cognitive Decline

Impact of physical activity on cognitive health
Physiotherapy’s role in cognitive enhancement

Pain Management

Strategies for managing chronic pain in the elderly
Effectiveness of various pain relief techniques

Strength Training

Effects of strength training on the elderly
Impact on functional ability and mobility

Gait Improvement

Physiotherapy’s role in improving gait in older adults
Techniques for enhancing gait stability

Social Engagement

Impact of social activities on mental health in older adults
Role of physiotherapy in promoting social interaction

Nutritional Interventions

Nutritional support in geriatric physiotherapy
Effects on overall health and recovery

Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Research Topics

Pulmonary rehab programs and techniques
Impact on exercise tolerance and symptoms

Asthma Management

Physiotherapy’s role in managing asthma
Breathing exercises and their effectiveness

Cardiac Rehab

Exercise training and education in cardiac rehab
Impact on cardiac function and hospital readmissions

Respiratory Muscle Training

Effectiveness of respiratory muscle training
Impact on lung function and symptoms

Post-Surgical Cardiac Recovery

Rehab methods after heart surgery
Comparative effectiveness of different interventions

Breathing Exercises

Efficacy of breathing exercises for COPD and asthma
Impact on lung function and symptom control

Exercise Intensity

Effects of exercise intensity in cardiac rehab
Optimal intensity for improving outcomes

Pulmonary Function

Physiotherapy’s impact on pulmonary function
Techniques for improving lung capacity

Quality of Life

Physiotherapy’s effect on quality of life in cardiac and respiratory conditions
Impact on daily functioning and well-being

Telehealth in Cardiac Rehab

Effectiveness of telehealth in cardiac rehab
Comparison with traditional in-person rehab methods

Neurological Physiotherapy Research Topics

Stroke rehab.

Robotic therapy for stroke recovery
Virtual reality’s impact on balance and function

Parkinson’s Disease

Exercise therapy for gait improvement
Music therapy’s role in motor function

Multiple Sclerosis

Aquatic therapy for fatigue management
Balance training for fall prevention

Spinal Cord Injury

Functional electrical stimulation for lower limb function
Robotics in spinal cord injury rehab

Cognitive Rehab

Techniques for improving cognitive function
Impact of physiotherapy on cognitive impairments

Gait Training

Physiotherapy interventions for gait improvement
Effectiveness of various gait training methods

Motor Function

Role of physiotherapy in motor function recovery
Impact on overall functional ability

Speech and Swallowing

Physiotherapy’s impact on speech and swallowing
Techniques for improving communication and swallowing

Neuroplasticity

Physiotherapy’s role in promoting neuroplasticity
Impact on recovery and function

Functional Independence

Interventions for improving independence in neurological conditions
Strategies for enhancing daily living skills

Pediatrics Research Topics

Early intervention.

Effectiveness of early intervention for developmental delays
Impact on motor and cognitive development

Cerebral Palsy

Physiotherapy approaches for cerebral palsy management

Childhood Obesity

Physical activity interventions for childhood obesity
Effects on musculoskeletal health and weight management

Developmental Coordination Disorder

Treatments for developmental coordination disorder
Impact on motor skills and coordination

Congenital Muscular Disorders

Rehab methods for congenital muscular disorders
Effectiveness of different physiotherapy approaches
Interventions for improving postural control in children
Impact on functional abilities

Sensory Integration Therapy

Effectiveness of sensory integration therapy
Impact on developmental delays and sensory processing

Fitness and Health

Structured physical activity’s impact on child health
Effects on physical fitness and overall well-being

Adaptive Equipment

Role of adaptive equipment in pediatric mobility
Impact on functional independence

Parental Involvement

Effects of parental involvement on physiotherapy outcomes
Strategies for engaging parents in therapy

Women’s Health Research Topics

Pelvic floor training.

Effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence
Impact on pelvic health and function

Pelvic Pain

Physiotherapy for managing pelvic pain
Techniques and outcomes

Pregnancy and Childbirth

Impacts on pelvic floor function during and after pregnancy
Physiotherapy interventions for postpartum recovery
Physiotherapy for managing menopause symptoms
Impact on overall health and well-being

Postpartum Recovery

Physiotherapy’s role in postpartum recovery
Strategies for improving physical function

Breast Cancer Rehab

Rehab approaches post-breast cancer treatment
Impact on physical function and quality of life

Prolapse Management

Techniques for managing pelvic organ prolapse
Physiotherapy’s role in treatment

Endometriosis

Physiotherapy for managing endometriosis pain
Effectiveness of different interventions

Pre-natal Exercise

Impact of pre-natal exercises on pregnancy outcomes
Safety and benefits of various exercises

Post-Surgical Recovery

Rehab techniques for women’s health procedures
Effectiveness and recovery outcomes

Pain Management Research Topics

Acupuncture.

Effectiveness of acupuncture for chronic pain management
Comparison with other pain relief methods

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Role of mindfulness in pain management
Impact on pain levels and quality of life
Chronic pain’s impact on quality of life
Strategies to improve well-being

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

CBT for chronic pain management
Effectiveness in reducing pain and improving function

Multimodal Pain Management

Combining pain management techniques
Impact on pain reduction and functional outcomes

Heat vs. Cold Therapy

Comparison of heat and cold therapy for pain relief
Effectiveness in different conditions

Pain Education

Impact of pain education on self-management
Effectiveness of educational programs

Biofeedback

Role of biofeedback in managing pain
Impact on pain levels and stress reduction

Pain and Sleep

Chronic pain’s effect on sleep
Physiotherapy’s role in improving sleep quality

Virtual Reality

Use of virtual reality for pain management
Effectiveness and patient outcomes

PubMed physiotherapy Project topics

Physiotherapy for chronic pain.

Techniques for managing lower back pain
Approaches for arthritis pain relief

Rehabilitation Post-Orthopedic Surgery

Physiotherapy for joint replacements
Post-surgical mobility and strength exercises

Stroke Recovery and Physiotherapy

Techniques to improve motor function
Interventions for enhancing daily living activities

Balance and Posture in Older Adults

Exercises to improve balance and prevent falls
Postural training and correction techniques

Manual Therapy vs. Exercise Therapy

Comparison of techniques for shoulder impingement
Effectiveness for managing lumbar disc herniation

Telehealth Physiotherapy

Comparison of remote vs. in-person physiotherapy effectiveness
Patient engagement and adherence in virtual settings

Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy

Recovery strategies for ACL tears
Rehabilitation techniques for rotator cuff injuries

Physiotherapy for PTSD

Techniques for addressing physical symptoms of PTSD
Integration of physiotherapy with psychological treatments

Pediatric Physiotherapy

Effective treatments for cerebral palsy
Interventions for developmental delays

Respiratory Conditions and Physiotherapy

Techniques for managing COPD symptoms
Strategies for asthma control through physiotherapy

Writing a Research Proposal

Check out the best tips for writing a research proposal:-

Research Proposal Components

Title: State the research topic.
Abstract: Summarize the question, methods, and outcomes.
Introduction: Background, problem, and objectives.
Literature Review: Current knowledge, gaps, and need for the study.
Methodology: Design, data collection, participants, and analysis.
Timeline: Project schedule with milestones.
Budget: Costs for personnel, equipment, and expenses.
References: Cite all sources.
Appendices: Include supporting materials.

Grant Writing and Funding

Identify Funders: Find relevant organizations.
Understand Criteria: Check funder guidelines.
Tailor Proposal: Match proposal to funder’s priorities.
Build a Case: Show research impact and alignment.
Develop Budget: Detail and justify costs.
Collaborate: Partner with others if needed.

Funding Sources

Government Grants: NIH, Department of Health.
Foundations: Arthritis Foundation, Parkinson’s Foundation.
Professional Organizations: APTA, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
Universities: Research institutions.

Disseminating Research Findings

Let’s check out disseminating research finding:-

Publishing Papers

Peer Review: Submit to reputable journals.
Journal Selection: Pick relevant journals.
Manuscript Preparation: Follow journal guidelines.
Open Access: Consider open access for more visibility.

Presenting at Conferences

Conference Selection: Choose relevant events.
Abstract Submission: Summarize your research.
Oral Presentations: Present clearly and engagingly.
Poster Presentations: Create effective posters.

Engaging the Community

Social Media: Share on platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn.
Professional Networks: Connect with peers online.
Continuing Education: Host workshops or webinars.
Collaborations: Partner with others.
Policy Engagement: Influence policy with your findings.

Adjust your message based on the audience—detailed for academics, simplified for the general public.

Ethical Considerations in Physiotherapy Research

Check out ethical considerations in physiotherapy research:-

Informed Consent

Clear Information: Ensure participants understand the study’s purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits.
Voluntary Participation: Participation should be free from coercion.
Capacity: Verify that participants can understand and consent.

Data Privacy

Confidentiality: Keep participant data secure and private.
Anonymity: Collect data anonymously if possible.
Data Storage: Use secure systems to prevent breaches.
Data Sharing: Protect privacy if sharing data.

Research Integrity

Honesty: Be truthful in data collection and reporting.
Plagiarism: Cite sources properly.
Data Integrity: Avoid fabricating or altering data.
Peer Review: Submit research for review to validate findings.

Participant Safety

Risk Minimization: Identify and reduce risks to participants.
Monitoring: Track participant well-being throughout the study.
Emergency Plans: Have procedures for handling adverse events.
Compensation: Provide fair compensation if applicable.

Tips for Conducting Physiotherapy Research

Check out the best tips for conducting physiotheraphy research:-

Time Management and Organization

Prioritize: Schedule time for each task (review, data, writing).
Set Goals: Break tasks into smaller steps.
Use Tools: Utilize calendars and planners.
Workspace: Create a focused area for research.

Literature Review

Define Question: State your research topic.
Use Databases: Search sources like PubMed and CINAHL.
Appraise Studies: Check study quality.
Organize: Structure findings clearly.

Data Analysis

Choose Methods: Pick appropriate analysis techniques.
Prepare Data: Ensure accuracy.
Use Software: Use tools like SPSS or R.
Seek Help: Consult a statistician if needed.

Writing and Presentation

Structure: Organize findings logically.
Clear Language: Use simple terms.
Visuals: Include graphs and charts.
Practice: Rehearse presentations.
Feedback: Get input from others.

Seeking Mentorship

Find Mentors: Look for experienced researchers.
Build Relationships: Communicate openly.
Ask for Advice: Get guidance on research and writing.
Network: Attend conferences and workshops.

Stay persistent and open to learning.

Case studies of successful physiotherapy research projects

Check out the case studies of successful physiotheraphy research topics:-

Musculoskeletal Conditions

Low Back Pain: Effective exercises and manual therapy.
Osteoarthritis: Exercise benefits and joint rehab.
Rotator Cuff Injuries: Surgical vs. non-surgical options.

Neurological Conditions

Stroke: Intensive therapy and robotic rehab.
Parkinson’s: Exercise programs and fall prevention.
Multiple Sclerosis: Fatigue and balance management.
Fall Prevention: Exercise and home safety.
Frailty: Exercise and nutritional support.
Chronic Pain: Pain education and treatment approaches.
Cerebral Palsy: Early intervention and assistive tech.
Developmental Delay: Sensory and occupational therapy.
Childhood Obesity: Physical activity and dietary changes.

Overcoming challenges in physiotherapy research

Challenges and Solutions in Physiotherapy Research

Limited Resources: Scarcity of funding and equipment.
Time Constraints: Balancing research with other duties.
Participant Recruitment: Difficulty finding suitable participants.
Data Handling: Complex data collection and analysis.
Publication Issues: Difficulty getting published in top journals.
Resources: Prioritize, collaborate, seek funding.
Time: Create a timeline, delegate, use tools.
Recruitment: Network, use social media, offer incentives.
Data: Use software, get statistical help, ensure quality.
Publication: Follow guidelines, seek feedback, persist.

The role of technology in physiotherapy research

Technology in Physiotherapy Research

Data Collection and Analysis

Wearable Sensors: Track movement and physiological data.
Biomechanical Analysis: Study movement patterns.
Image Analysis: Analyze MRI and X-ray images.
EHRs: Use patient data for large-scale studies.
Data Software: Manage and analyze data with tools like SPSS.

Intervention Development

VR/AR: Create engaging rehab environments.
Telehealth: Provide remote physiotherapy services.
Robotics: Assist with precise rehab exercises.
Gamification: Use games to boost motivation.

Collaboration and Dissemination

Online Platforms: Collaborate globally via Zoom or Teams.
Open-Source Software: Share and reproduce data.
Digital Publishing: Publish research online.
Social Media: Share findings and engage with the public.
Data Privacy: Secure patient information.
Tech Literacy: Ensure proper training.
Cost: Manage technology expenses.
Ethics: Follow ethical guidelines.

Harnessing technology enhances innovation and improves patient care in physiotherapy research.

Collaboration opportunities for physiotherapy researchers

Check out the collaboration opportunities for physiotheraphy students:-

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Medical Professionals: Get clinical insights and access to patients.
Engineers: Create new physiotherapy technologies.
Computer Scientists: Use data science and AI.
Psychologists: Improve interventions with psychological insights.

Institutional Collaboration

Universities: Access diverse expertise and facilities.
Research Institutes: Get specialized resources.
Healthcare Organizations: Aid in data collection and patient recruitment.
Industry Partners: Develop new products and services.

International Collaboration

Global Health: Tackle issues in various regions.
Knowledge Exchange: Share expertise and broaden perspectives.
Multicultural Research: Study diverse populations.

Benefits of Collaboration

Increased Capacity: Boost research productivity.
Diverse Perspectives: Generate innovative ideas.
Shared Risk: Lower financial and time risks.
Enhanced Impact: Improve clinical practice and policy.

Collaboration enhances research, offers new insights, and drives progress in physiotherapy.

Publishing research findings

Check out the best tips for publishing research finding:-

Choosing the Right Journal

Identify Target Journals: Consider impact factor, scope, and audience.
Align Research: Match your work to the journal’s focus.
Check Guidelines: Follow the journal’s formatting and submission rules.

Preparing Your Manuscript

Format Properly: Use the journal’s style guide for citations and references.
Write Clearly: Avoid jargon and use straightforward language.
Detail Methods: Clearly describe your research methods.
Present Results: Use visuals to showcase your findings effectively.
Discuss Findings: Relate results to existing research.
Address Ethics: Mention ethical considerations and approvals.

Peer Review Process

Submit Manuscript: Send your paper to the selected journal.
Peer Evaluation: Experts review your work.
Revise: Make changes based on feedback.
Resubmit: Send the revised manuscript for further review.

Publication

Acceptance: Once approved, your paper will be published.
Proofread: Check the final version for errors.
Disseminate: Share your research through social media and presentations.

Collaborating with other healthcare professionals

Check out the best tips for collaborating with other healthcare professionals:-

Better Care: Holistic treatment improves outcomes.
Enhanced Problem-Solving: Diverse views solve complex issues.
Greater Efficiency: Reduces redundancy and streamlines work.
Growth: Offers learning and development opportunities.

Challenges and Solutions

Communication: Use clear language and hold regular meetings.
Role Clarity: Define roles to avoid overlap.
Time: Prioritize and schedule collaborative tasks.
Diverse Perspectives: Find common ground and value different views.
Joint Assessments: Evaluate patients together.
Shared Decisions: Include everyone in decision-making.
Open Communication: Keep dialogue honest and regular.
Common Goals: Set and work towards shared objectives.
Resolve Conflicts: Address disagreements respectfully.

Key Collaborators

Physicians: Diagnosis and treatment.
Nurses: Education and planning.
Occupational Therapists: Daily living and assessments.
Speech-Language Pathologists: Communication and swallowing.
Dietitians: Nutrition and weight.
Psychologists: Mental health and pain.

How to select a topic for research in physiotherapy?

Check out the best tips to select a topic for research in physiotheraphy:-

Identify Your Interests and Expertise

Personal Interest: Choose something you’re passionate about.
Clinical Experience: Base your topic on your clinical practice.
Knowledge Base: Stay within your field of expertise.

Conduct a Literature Review

Explore Existing Research: Find gaps and questions.
Stay Updated: Check recent studies for new trends.
Analyze Methods: Learn from past research methods.

Consider Research Feasibility

Resources: Check availability of funding, equipment, and staff.
Ethics: Ensure the topic is ethically sound.
Timeframe: Assess how long data collection and analysis will take.

Define a Clear Research Question

Specificity: Be clear about what you want to investigate.
Relevance: Ensure it matters in the field of physiotherapy.
Feasibility: Make sure the question is practical to answer.

Seek Guidance

Mentors: Get advice from experienced researchers.
Colleagues: Discuss ideas with peers for different viewpoints.
Supervisors: Consult academic advisors for support.

Which subject is good for physiotherapy?

To pursue physiotherapy, you usually need to complete 12th grade with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB).

Anatomy and Physiology : Key for understanding the body.
Biomechanics : Physics helps with movement studies.
Chemistry : Important for biochemistry and medications.

Core Subjects in Physiotherapy

Anatomy and Physiology
Biomechanics
Exercise Therapy
Electrotherapy
Orthopedics
Cardiovascular and Respiratory Therapy
Sports Therapy

Physiotherapy research is full of exciting opportunities to make a real difference. Your work can improve patient care and shape future practices.

Start with the topics here to find what excites you. Research will boost your knowledge and skills, like critical thinking and problem-solving.

As you dive in, get advice from mentors, work with peers, and stay updated on the latest trends. Every bit of research contributes to our field.

Embrace the challenges, enjoy your progress, and let your work make a positive impact on patient lives.

270+ Unique Cyber Security Research Topics For Students

250+ Best Cloud Computing Research Topics for students 2024

Best 60 Physical Therapy Research Topics

Physical therapists specialize in improving the quality of life through movements by prescribed physical exercise, care, and education of patients. They diagnose and treat people of various ages, from adults to small children and even older patients.

Different individuals suffer injuries, disabilities, and all other physical conditions that require hospitalization or treatment. Physical therapists are responsible for nursing these people back to health and individuals who want to become even healthier and prevent physical complications in the future.

They carry this out by examining each patient and creating a treatment plan to improve movement ability and reduce or manage pain, prevent disability, and gradually restore normal mobility functions. Physical therapists are sometimes underrated, but they can affect profound positive changes in people’s lives.

To ensure the best treatment outcomes, it is essential for physical therapists to stay updated with the latest research and advancements in the field. If you’re in need of assistance in exploring physical therapy research topics or require support in writing your thesis, consider reaching out to professional experts who can help you. With their expertise, they can guide you in selecting relevant research topics and provide valuable insights to enhance your thesis.

Physical therapy research topics aid and guide physical therapists to help people achieve a better style and standard of healthy living. By seeking professional assistance, such as writing services that offer “ write my thesis ” support, you can ensure that your thesis reflects the latest research and contributes to the field of physical therapy.

What Are Some Physical Therapy Research Topics?

Physical therapists practice across different works of life. Significant examples are schools, workplaces, clinics, hospitals, sports environments, and nursing homes. The demand for physical therapies differs in various regions of the world. In countries or nations with a higher and older population, the need for physical therapists is ever increasing.

Research topics for physical therapy provide insight into the various ways and methods of fulfilling healthy living through physical therapy and fitness. These topics can range from research education to health administration and consultation. Fundamentally, physical therapy is given as a means of primary care or in addition to other medical services.

In most countries, physical therapists also possess the authority to issue lifestyle routines and prescribe medications. Some research topics in physical therapy include;

The systemic review of health promotion in physical therapy
The influence of hip strength and core endurance on recurrent dislocations
Influence of fatigue and knee kinetics
Effects of fatigue of jumping and leg movement
Role of physical therapists in health promotion
The accuracy of sensors in the detection of kicks in young infants

Current Physical Therapy Research Topics

Current physical therapy research topics mostly dwell on the trending and impactful issues that presently concern the physical health and fitness of the general population. They compare previous experiences and formulate ideas and physical movement methods to improve individuals’ physical wellbeing.

Students can write research papers about the latest developments in the sector of physical therapy. Some of these research topics can even address current setbacks in the sector. Some good research topics for physical therapy currently being talked about include;

Physical therapy for rheumatoid arthritis
Physical therapy and mental health
Physical therapy and Foucault
The pain barrier and physical therapy
Physical therapy for cancer patients
A study of the benefits of physical therapy on physical and psychological health

Pediatric Physical Therapy Research Topics

Pediatric physical therapy research topics talk about topics that involve patients requiring pediatric care. These types of physical therapy topics encompass how physical therapy affects both mother and child. These topics are perfect for students who intend on specializing in pediatric physical therapy.

However, the choice of any subject in this category should principally depend on the students’ passion and interest and the instructions of the tutors in charge. Examples of pediatric research topics in physical therapy are;

How does physical therapy impact a child?
The significant differences between occupational therapy and physical therapy
The function and features of pediatric therapy research
Who is a pediatric physical therapist, and what is their obligation?
Disparities between a physical therapy for children of different age ranges
Is pediatric research for children with injuries vital?

Interesting Physical Therapy Topics

Interesting physical therapy topics lean towards those topics on physical therapy that pique the interest of individuals and are extensive in terms of providing specific and compelling information on various points of improved physical health. These physical therapy topics are often discussed and induce great anticipation and interest upon their explanation or study. Some exciting research topics on physical therapy are;

The science of pain and physical therapy
Compliance and consistency in physical therapy
Significant signs of burnout in physical therapy
Travel therapy: A form of physical therapy
Physical therapists and their handling of musculoskeletal issues
The science behind physical therapy

Hot Topics in Physical Therapy

To think up hot topics in physical therapy research, students should brainstorm or explore the available problems or developments. Potential ideas in physical therapy such as the issues affecting routine and the growth and development or success of physical therapy can be written and thoroughly examined to generate hot topics in physical therapy. Hot research topics for physical therapy students include;

Interaction between physical therapists and mentally challenged patients
Physical therapy for both mind and body
Physical disability and its psychological impact
Physical therapy as a means of empowerment for surmounting pain
Abuse and tortured patients’ treatment in physical therapy
The effect of slow-progressing physical therapy

Controversial Topics Physical Therapy

Controversial topics in physical therapy research concern methods and techniques used by physical therapy experts which are deemed ineffective and unnecessary. These topics have differing opinions on their efficacy and contribution to overall physical wellbeing. Some controversial physical therapy topics are;

Is ultrasound effective in the diagnosis of sports injuries?
The reason behind self-myofascial techniques
Is icing a good treatment for physical injuries?
The process of dry needling
Is hemp-derived CBD successful in treating sport-related injuries?
The most effective strategies for targeting neuro-musculoskeletal injuries.

Acute Care Physical Therapy Topics

This topic revolves around patients who require acute physical care due to the nature of their physical impairments. Some of these topics include;

Treatment of bone and muscle disorders in the musculoskeletal system
Walking analysis and kinetics
Primary effects of physical therapy intervention in the cardiovascular system
Physiological responses to the musculoskeletal system
Secondary effects of physical therapy intervention in the pulmonary system
Measurements and tests in physical therapy.

Physical Therapy Topics for Presentation

These physical therapy research topics can be employed for presentation purposes. They intensively explain some direct aspects of physical therapy. These physical therapy presentation topics include;

Prevention and identification of injuries during physical therapy
Acute care and assessment of sports injuries
Education of athletes on injury prevention
Treatment and techniques that speed up physical therapy
Best processes for the rehabilitation and management of injuries
The pharmacology of musculoskeletal systems.

Physical Therapy Research Paper Topics

Physical therapy research paper topics delve into the extensive explanation and research of physical therapy methods and techniques used to treat physical impediments or disorders. Some of them are;

The musculoskeletal system’s response to the environment
Mobility and joint functions in the body
Exercise and the musculoskeletal system
Practicing physical therapy: A professionals perspective
The benefits of an effective physical therapy
Similarities in occupational and physical therapy.

Get Your Physical Therapy Paper from Experts

To get physical therapy from experts, you simply need to identify efficient and trusted therapy platforms with experienced therapists to aid your recovery or improve your physical health. As a student, many professional writers can assist you in writing a therapy paper. Some physical therapy paper topics experts can help you to write on are;

Code of ethics for physical therapy
The roles which challenge physical therapists
Rehabilitation guidelines for physical therapists
Dimensions of physical therapy
Ethical issues in the practice of physical therapy
The relationship of patients and physical therapists

Conclusion

Research papers on physical therapy essentially encompass health problems that make movement and daily tasks difficult for individuals. The principal reason for this is because physical therapy is about pain relief and physical rehabilitation. All the topics highlighted here can easily be used for research and paper writing.

If you’re pursuing a thesis in the field of physical therapy and find yourself in need of expert guidance, our reputable academic writing services available to write the thesis for you . DissertationTeam provide valuable assistance in crafting a well-researched and structured thesis. Professional writers with subject matter expertise can help you navigate the complexities of the research process, refine your ideas, and ensure that your thesis meets the highest academic standards. By seeking the support of our company and having us write the thesis for you, you can enhance your thesis writing experience and increase your chances of success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Richard Ginger is a dissertation writer and freelance columnist with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the writing industry. He handles every project he works on with precision while keeping attention to details and ensuring that every work he does is unique.

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Undergraduate research implementation in physiotherapy: a hands-on and real experience of a randomised controlled trial

Igor Sancho 1 ,
Maialen Araolaza-Arrieta 1 ,
Iker Villanueva-Ruiz 1 &
Ane Arbillaga-Etxarri 1

BMC Medical Education volume 23 , Article number: 736 ( 2023 ) Cite this article

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Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the gold standard approach in physiotherapy, and it is essential that students are aware that it is the appropriate way to provide the patient with the best possible treatment. Undergraduate research (UR) can positively influence learning outcomes and research competencies related to EBP compared to traditional methods of higher education. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of implementing a research-based activity (i.e., active participation in a randomised controlled trial [RCT]) in the UR programme on the learning and acquisition of research methodology-related competencies by first-year physiotherapy students.

Students in the first academic year of the Bachelor´s Degree in Physiotherapy of University of Deusto (Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain) who were enrolled in the subject ‘Introduction to Research Methodology’ were invited to take part in a real RCT which consisted of three groups: intervention, placebo, and control group. While the RCT was carried out, researchers and/or participants roles were combined among students during the semester. At the end, a questionnaire that included open and closed questions was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the UR strategies used in students´ acquisition of theoretical knowledge, research competencies, self-efficacy of RCT skills and procedures. Lecturers also completed the questionnaire to evaluate their experience.

From the 114 students enrolled in the subject, 102 participated in the RCT and 110 answered the final questionnaire. Regarding the development of research competencies, UR had a positive or very positive impact on critical thinking (67% and 18%, respectively) and in the assessment of methodological quality (66% and 23%, respectively). Furthermore, most students reported that the implementation of the RCT facilitated their knowledge of placebo, detection of bias, development of critical thinking and a better understanding of methodological issues in research. Lecturers reported an additional burden that was difficult to reconcile with daily duties.

The novel UR program provided students with a new opportunity to improve their knowledge of RCT procedures, thus making the learning process more meaningful. Therefore, ways of teaching and learning focused on improving research and inquiry attitudes should be considered and integrated into the health care curriculum, especially in physiotherapy programs, to ensure the transfer of EBP for the provision of the best care.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Registry: ACTRN12622000263796p (14/02/2022).

Peer Review reports

The development of research skills at higher education is considered a challenge where the institutions and lecturers try to combine educational and research attitudes, while inexperienced and novice students need to develop scientific skills [ 1 ]. In this way, research and teaching should be connected as it provides the opportunity for lecturers and researchers, who usually are already involved in the natural process of academic or clinical research, to disseminate, promote and provide scientific knowledge to those students who are just about to develop the basic research skills for their incipient professional future. In this framework, the integration of hands-on research experiences is considered an effective solution to link both profiles [ 2 , 3 ]. However, in the field of physiotherapy, only a few studies had specifically investigated this relationship [ 4 ]. Indeed, rather than analysing which strategies are pedagogically effective for this purpose, most methodologies tend to focus on evidence-based practice (EBP) teaching, due to its relevance in clinical practice [ 4 ].

EBP consists in the application of the best scientific evidence in clinical decision-making by integrating clinical experience, incorporating patient values and preferences into the practice of professional patient care [ 5 ]. In health science disciplines like physiotherapy, the translation of EBP into practice is vital to adopt a critical stance to provide the best care. Therefore, knowledge of research methodology and critical thinking skills are essential. For example, it is essential to be aware of the issues related to randomized control trials (RCT), namely in terms of methodological biases and trial design features, and how these impact the interpretation of their results and treatment effect estimates. Physiotherapy students should naturally develop and integrate analytical and critical thinking about research to ensure the implementation of the best EBP [ 6 ].

However, the term EBP should be clarified since it is considered a general, universal, and gold standard learning outcome for clinical practice rather than a specific education strategy per se ( 4 ). In this sense, Bala et al. found that different teaching and learning focused on EBP improved knowledge and changed behaviour across a diverse range of teaching modalities and health students. Nevertheless, most of the studies were considered as critically low quality. Therefore, the most effective teaching strategies to promote the use of EBP in clinical practice are uncertain ( 7 , 8 , 9 ). In this context, one study showed that the meaning of EBP processes or principles are not well understood by undergraduate health students ( 10 ). Hence, the approach of linking research and teaching in higher education seems to require a holistic educational environment rather than a learning outcome.Undergraduate research (UR) can positively influence learning outcomes and facilitate the acquisition of research competencies related to EBP when compared to traditional methods in higher education ( 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ). Undergraduate research consists of the application of a battery of teaching and learning strategies that aim to aid the student in gaining research-related knowledge and skills. This is accomplished by providing students with opportunities to acquire research skills and apply theoretical contents in real practice, for example, by involving students in a partial or full research project under the lecturer’s supervision [ 2 ]. This activity facilitates the appropriation and construction of knowledge through practice, collaborative learning, experimentation, and critical thinking. Active participation through first-hand experience helps students learn about and foster interest in the disciplines developed [ 15 ]. Consequently, UR provides a unique and special environment that merges scientific and educational procedures at the same time.

Evidence supports that UR implementation increases motivation and develops an investigative attitude and vital general skills in students [ 16 ]. Recent scoping reviews have been carried out among students involved in rehabilitation issues including physiotherapy and/or occupational therapy programmes [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. However, the implementation of UR across healthcare programs (i.e., physiotherapy) is still limited [ 20 ]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the implementation of a research-based activity (i.e., active participation in an RCT) in the UR program on the learning and acquisition of competences related to research methodology by first-year physiotherapy students.

A real RCT where students could take part as researchers and/or participants as the main UR strategy was undertaken. The aim of the RCT was to evaluate the effectiveness of a superficial neuromodulation device developed by an external private company (© 2020 Irmoki). However, the true aim of the study reported here, to which students taking part were blind, was to evaluate the effect of the implementation of UR (through a teaching and learning strategy that included the design and active participation of students in an RCT) as described earlier.

First-year students of the Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy and the Bachelor’s double Degree in Physiotherapy and Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, who were enrolled in the subject ‘Introduction to Research Methodology’ at University of Deusto during the course 2021-22 were invited to participate in the study. The lectures are taught by two lecturers in three different languages (Basque, Spanish, and English). One lecturer was in charge of one group (the Basque group), whereas the other lecturer led the Spanish and English groups. The number of students for both lecturers was very similar, and they were strictly coordinated to teach in parallel, sharing content, teaching methods, schedule, and evaluation system. Indeed, the subject of “Biostatistics” was also shared between both of them. Finally, they can be considered as active researchers (publishing articles, leading projects and attending congresses) in their background of musculoskeletal and respiratory physiotherapy area, respectively.

It is worth mentioning that the University of Deusto implemented the Degree in Physiotherapy in the academic year 2020–2021. The emerging academic frame allowed the early integration of UR thanks to a curriculum designed according to guidelines set by experts [ 3 ], that also included other innovative educational methodologies such as simulation or problem-based learning. ‘Introduction to Research Methodology’ is taught in the second semester of the first year with the aim of seeking across-effect and connecting subsequent courses of the Degree. In this sense, the subject is complemented by other syllabus oriented at EBP in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years, which includes research-related activities such as literature reviews, debates, attendance to scientific conferences, or clinical practices in the emerging research group, and the final year dissertation.

For the sake of clarity, two types of procedures have been distinguished: first, those related to RCT procedures, and then those related to UR programme implementation.

Procedures related to RCT

Study design and registration.

This RCT was designed following the Consolidated Standard of Reporting Trials for Controlled Studies (CONSORT) statement, registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Registry (ACTRN12622000263796p, 14/02/2022) and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Deusto (ETK-21/21–22). Details about the RCT are presented in Supplementary material A section.

Participants

All students (n = 114) enrolled in the subject were invited to participate and informed about the RCT including potential effects and demands of the intervention. Four students refused to participate in the study and eight students dropped out during the 14 weeks due to failure to complete the weekly questionnaire, general discomfort associated with the device, and an ankle sprain. In the end, 102 students finally completed the RCT.

Participants were randomly allocated to three groups (intervention, placebo, and control). Students allocated into the intervention group wore a superficial neuromodulation device (© 2020 Irmoki) while students remained seated at rest following lectures at University. The device consists of 4 wireless receptors to be placed on the distal third of the limbs by means of gloves and anklets and controlled through Bluetooth technology by a smartphone app (Fig. 1 ). The app remotely activates the device which emits rectangular biphasic and monophasic galvanic electrical impulses of very low frequency (0.5–14 Hz) coordinated through 28 electrodes that aim to modulate the autonomic nervous system. Students in the placebo group were blinded by wearing the device in the same way as the intervention group, but without being active (light was switched on but the device did not emit the electrical current). The control group did not receive any intervention.

Example of neuromodulation device placement of the intervention and placebo groups. Note: image provided by Irmoki company

Data collection and analysis

Sociodemographical data were collected at baseline. Outcomes were gathered by means of an online questionnaire at baseline and after weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8 which retrieved data about fatigue, sleep quality, muscular soreness, stress level, and mood. In addition, participants in the intervention and placebo groups were asked about the expectation towards the intervention and the perceived potential alterations.

Procedures related to the implementation of the UR programme

From 114 students enrolled in the subject, ergo involved in the implementation of the UR teaching strategies for 14 weeks, the same four students who refused to participate on the RCT also refused to answer the UR outcome evaluation questionnaires at the end of the semester. Thus, 110 responses were collected. In addition, the two lecturers completed the questionnaire.

UR strategies were executed according to the subject´s syllabus. These were based, combined, and integrated on the theoretical topics described in Fig. 2 . The key research-based strategy was to engage students (as participants and/or researchers) in the execution of a real RCT. In detail, the students allocated to the RCT control group were assigned, under the supervision of the lecturers, the role of managing the delivery and collection of the devices, as well as the adherence to the intervention and the sending and completion of the questionnaires. The students were involved and progressively integrated to work through practical hands-on experiences, in parallel with the theoretical content of the subject. The practical hands-on experiences were: (1) The assessment of the ethical aspects and consent-informed writing was carried out as an experiential activity with the aim of improving the analysis and understanding in depth of the meaning of signing a consent form; (2) In order to contextualise the EBP approach, different papers were used by the lecturers during the presentation to introduce the theoretical framework and the mechanism of action of the device. Likewise, the RCT was used as the thread of the scientific method; (3) The theoretical content of the structure and typology of the papers was introduced through the analysis of the evidence used in the RCT presentation; (4) In order to promote the trend of filtering and ranking the evidence, the quality analysis of the journals was carried out in relation to Journal Citation Reports ranking system; (5) The established RCT design aimed to foster the contrast in depth of the different trials modalities and their limitations in terms of randomisation, blinding, and the presence of a control group; (6) The limited sample size of the RCT prompted reflection about the importance on the previous sample size calculation. Indeed, the lecturers distributed the RCT database with the aim of promoting an experiential preliminary statistical analysis in small groups under the supervision of the lecturers, using the knowledge and skills acquired in the previous subject of “Biostatistics”. In addition, the students were able to carry out a self-assessment by comparing their analysis with the results of the lecturers in a collaborative way; (7) With the aim of fostering the capacity for critical methodological analysis validity, reliability, and especially the bias (such as, selection bias, performance bias, attrition bias, etc.) were thoroughly analysed; (8) As a final activity, the placebo group was revealed to promote critical thinking on the impact of suggestion, expectation, sample contamination, etc.

The strategies used during UR methodology implementation

The RCT, the implementation of UR strategies, and the evaluation were led by the two main lecturers of the subject. In addition, other lecturers from other subjects collaborated exclusively with the task of delivering and collecting the devices. In this sense, they also remained blinded to randomization and study information.

Data collection and outcome measures

At the end of the semester, an ad hoc questionnaire completed by participants in the study collected several outcomes focused on four dimensions: (a) the integration of research knowledge related to the theoretical contents; (b) the development of research competencies; (c) the level of self-efficacy about the skills trained; and (d) the RCT procedures. The questions related to the first two dimensions were based on the validated version of the “Cuestionario de Efectividad del Uso de Metodologías de Participación Activa (CEMPA)” ( 21 ) which measures the perception on the effectiveness of using active participation methodologies. The self-efficacy questions were adapted from the “Cuestionario de estrategias profundas de aprendizaje” validated by Panadero et al. [ 22 ]. The questionnaire is presented in the Supplementary material B section. Finally, participants and the two lecturers answered an open question to highlight specific elements during the learning process.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was conducted using Jamovi (v. 1.6.23, The Jamovi Project, Sydney, Australia). Descriptive statistics were calculated with proportions and frequencies and the distribution of the investigated variables was presented with bar diagrams.

110 participants (sex: 48 M/54F; and age: 19.5 (1.63) years) completed the questionnaire about the impact of the UR teaching strategies. Figures 3 , 4 , 5 and 6 report on the quantitative data provided by the questionnaire. The effect of UR on the acquisition of research knowledge related to theoretical content was very positive (Fig. 3 ) and especially topics related to the placebo effect, methodological bias, trial design and types of trials, and the concepts of reliability and validity were better adjusted. The smallest effect was found on scientific publications, journal rankings, and PICO strategy.

Results of the questionnaire: effect on integration of research knowledge related to the theoretical contents

Results of the questionnaire: effect on the development of research competences

Results of the questionnaire: effect on self-efficacy about the skills trained

Results of the questionnaire: Issues related to RCT implementation the aim of seeking across effect

Regarding the development of research competencies, most students reported that UR had a positive or very positive impact on critical thinking (67% and 18%, respectively) and assessment of methodological quality (66% and 23%, respectively) (Fig. 4 ).

Self-efficacy about the skills trained was highly rated, and skills that benefited the most were the ability to understand and explain the placebo effect, the capacity to read and integrate the results of an RCT, and the ability to identify bias and methodological gaps related to the design and execution of a clinical trial (Fig. 5 ).

Students evaluated very positively the inclusion of an RCT as an active learning strategy. Aspects that received the best evaluation were the adequacy of the UR strategy with the implementation of the RCT in the subject, the active participation of students during the learning process, and the involvement and structured organisation shown by the teaching staff responsible for the project (Fig. 6 ).

Answers from the open question are presented in Table 1 . Most students reported that their knowledge about the placebo effect had improved through the trial. In addition, the UR strategies were reported to contribute to the development of critical thinking and a better understanding of the strengths and limitations of the research. Finally, UR was perceived as a tool that facilitated the learning process, added dynamism, complemented the subject content to deepen it, and pointed to the need for EBP.

On the other hand, negative aspects identified by both lecturers include the excessive duration of the intervention, the extra daily burden of getting students to wear the devices to ensure adherence to the intervention and data collection, and the difficulty of combining it with other daily obligations. However, lecturers reported that confidence in the premise of fostering research awareness, seeing it as the first step on a progressive path within a built UR programme, the support among the academic staff involved and their research experience helped to overcome the obstacle. Lecturers considered that this educational approach helped students to get closer to the reality of research, feel the placebo effect first-hand, identify mistakes and limitations, and propose solutions based on self-criticism. Lecturers also concluded that the activity provided a valuable opportunity for active learning through real experimentation.

The research-based activity framed in a UR programme consisting of the implementation of a real RCT in which students were involved as participants and researchers, supervised by qualified lecturers, showed positive effects on the acquisition of theoretical content, the development of research competences, the level of self-efficacy in research skills and knowledge about RCT procedures. Furthermore, it provided a novel experience for students, making the learning process more meaningful.

Strategies such as journal clubs or conducting a systematic review or meta-analysis are common in UR programs [ 18 ]. In fact, in some universities, physiotherapy students conduct primary research projects, or lecturers assigned to a research group assist students conceptualise a project, recruit subjects, and collect data in the last academic year [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. To our knowledge, this is the first study to apply a real RCT as a research-based strategy integrated in an UR programme in physiotherapy higher education.

In our study, most students reported that UR had a positive or very positive impact on critical thinking and assessment of methodological quality. Likewise, student showed that the RCT implementation improved the ability to understand and explain the placebo effect, the capacity to read and integrate the results of an RCT. This means that the students integrated better key knowledge of RCTs, such us how design features, risk of bias or placebo effect may distort results and lead to incorrect conclusions and substantially modulate clinical decision-making in physiotherapy [ 26 ]. In this sense, it is well known that an accurate assessment of the methodological quality of trials is essential in the synthesis of study findings in order to appropriately interpret results and effectively guide the clinical decision process [ 27 ]. In addition, the development of critical thinking about research methods and the long-term maintenance of the scientific attitude required by the EBP philosophy are fundamental to ensure its implementation [ 28 , 29 ]. In fact, the practice of EBP remains low among physiotherapists due to several barriers such as lack of resources, training, knowledge, time, and low availability of sources. Therefore, the use of a RCT as a UR strategy at a very early stage in higher education can reinforce academic responsibility and ethical awareness of students and help to overcome those barriers [ 28 , 29 ]. Also, according to the competencies proposed by the Europe Region World Physiotherapy, the commitment and honesty that comes implicit with the responsibility to keep up to date with the evidence should be ensured and continuously reinforced [ 30 ]. Consequently, students as future clinicians, researchers or stakeholders need to master these skills early in order to apply this ability in a natural and integrated way in their daily health care. Therefore, the implementation of first-hand RCT experience in early stages of higher education may be useful for future clinical practice [ 31 ], but more research is needed in this area.

According to the EBP approach of the physiotherapy degree curriculum developed at the University of Deusto, the emerging framework enabled the early integration of UR and other innovative educational methods. Moreover, the inclusion of EBP education in early stages is an accreditation requirement for many health professional disciplines [ 32 , 33 ]. In this sense, these results can confirm that implementation in an early educational setting can ensure the aim of seeking a progressive and cross-cutting effect that helps connect future concepts of the remaining degree courses [ 34 ]. Similarly, there should be a progressive development of research attitudes and skills [ 34 ], because this early experience is likely to evolve into progressively improved inquiry capabilities with different levels of independence and complexity. In addition, the research skills should be reinforced by other future research activities, adding more sophisticated searches about complex topics and from group to individual or more independent work. In turn, this is likely to allow for more selectivity in other initiatives as well (i.e., selected students invited to participate in lecturer-led research). However, these long-term effects of the early implementation of the RCT experience were not measured and should be investigated through longitudinal studies in the future [ 34 ].

The students evaluated very positively the adequacy of UR strategy, the active participation, and the involvement and structured organisation shown by the teaching staff. In this sense, the early and first-hand RCT experience within a subject related to research methodology, where students are actively involved in carrying out real research practical activities, fieldwork and/or act as participants is unique. This experience gave the students the opportunity to practise and become proficient at it, which has been described as an effective method to develop more sophisticated levels of intellectual development [ 35 ]. According to Debowski et al. 2006, students with limited active participation in research (i.e., where the lecturer-led activity is focused on teaching research findings or methods) may have a limited theoretical understanding and lack the ability to apply such knowledge to the real-world. To the contrary, by engaging in practical research strategies, students better understand the relevance of research to their professional practice as well as the complications, limitations, gaps, drawbacks, and value of the process [ 36 , 37 ].

The positive effect related to the integration of the placebo effect was most often mentioned by the students. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only UR strategy that has led to a real experience of the placebo effect among physiotherapy students. When the placebo group was revealed, the students could integrate how different design features of a trial, co-interventions, sample contamination, ambiguity of symptom detection, patient’s or researcher’s biases can have a substantial impact on estimates of treatment effects. Therewith, we consider the impact on the students’ critical appraisal skill was truly outstanding through unusual, exciting, and surprising pedagogical learning.The acquisition of research theoretical knowledge related to scientific articles, journals, systematic review and PICO did not improve as much as other items. We conclude that the design of the RCT encouraged students to focus on the theoretical content that engaged them most actively. Otherwise, the RCT itself is not very related to this type of theoretical content. If the design used was a systematic review instead of an RCT, the opposite would probably be the case with regard to the topics of theoretical content which scored lower.

Finally, the role of lecturers seems to be very important as an active knowledge transfer agent and the person who motivates, supervises, promotes, executes, and develops research linking students as technicians or voluntary participants during research procedures [ 38 ]. In this study, lecturers reported a daily extra burden related with RCT procedures which may impact on other academic and management tasks. This should be taken into account by departmental managers to ensure effective, appropriate, and sustainable teaching-research links and experiences [ 31 ].

Limitations

This study has some limitations. A systematic pre-post semester analysis and the lack of a control group of students without UR implementation are the most important. In this sense, a control group was very difficult to achieve because it was practically unfeasible to blind the students to the implementation of the RCT. However, this should be taken into account when interpreting the results obtained. In addition, a long-term view in line with other research and inquiry strategies are required to evaluate the effect on the students’ learning process. Further, increasing the sample size of students should also provide more insights into the teaching and learning capabilities of research. Finally, the lack of validated tools and the use of different points and not well-balanced scales when dimensions were assessed also could have had a negative impact.

This study presents a novel approach of the framework of UR in the unexplored healthcare discipline. Conducting an RCT is a challenging but valuable, useful, and effective way to integrate research and an inquiring attitude in physiotherapy students. Forms of teaching and learning focused on enhancing research and inquiring attitudes should be considered and integrated in the healthcare curriculum, especially in physiotherapy programmes, where students’ knowledge of RCT characteristics should be integrated early to ensure the transfer of EBP to provide the best care. In the future, this initiative should potentially be considered by lecturers, educational research promoters and stakeholders involved in UR programmes.

Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

Evidence-based practice

Undergraduate research

Randomised controlled trial

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the students who participated as volunteers and the teachers who were involved for their contribution to the study. Likewise, we also want to thank the company Irmoki for the loan of the devices.

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Deusto Physical TherapIker, Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain

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A.A., I.S. and M.A. conducted the RCT. I.S. and I.V. analyzed and interpreted the data. A.A. was a major contributor in writing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ane Arbillaga-Etxarri .

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Sancho, I., Araolaza-Arrieta, M., Villanueva-Ruiz, I. et al. Undergraduate research implementation in physiotherapy: a hands-on and real experience of a randomised controlled trial. BMC Med Educ 23 , 736 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04716-0

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Physiotherapy Dissertation Topics

Physio is an extremely valuable form of therapy because it helps patients to stay healthy and independent! Recent public health issues such as the obesity and COVID-19 crises have created new challenges for physios. Also, the introduction of new technologies and new treatment breakthroughs has reshaped the capabilities of physiotherapists in 2021.

Given the myriad of challenges and opportunities facing the physios of today, more research is needed in this field, both from students and more advanced researchers. Ultimately, it is the findings from new research which will help to improve the lives of patients! That said, if you’re a Health or Physiotherapy student and you’re looking for an interesting and up-to-date dissertation topic, here are some suggestions for your physiotherapy dissertation:

Do fall prevention programs reduce the number of falls among older patients? An evidence-based literature review
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Exploring physios’ attitudes towards the role of physiotherapy in end-of-life care
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Impact of patient motivation on the outcome of physiotherapy for chronic pain management
Exploring the physiotherapist’s role in smoking cessation.
Is hydrotherapy an effective treatment for chronic pain?
Can mobile health improve exercise adherence in geriatric patients?

Sources for inspiration

Dannemiler L. Mueller M. Leitner A. Iverson E. & Kaplan S. (2020). Physical Therapy Management of Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder: An Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline From the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association. Pediatr Phys Ther. 32(4):278-313.

Heng H. Jazayeri D. Shaw L. Kiegaldie D. Hill AM. & Morris M. (2020). Hospital falls prevention with patient education: a scoping review. BMC Geriatr. 2020; 20: 140.

Hidalgo J. (2019). Effectiveness of physical exercise in the treatment of depression in older adults as an alternative to antidepressant drugs in primary care. BMC Psychiatry. 19 (21)

Milne N. Choy N. Leong G. Hughes R. & Hing W. (2016). Child obesity service provision: a cross-sectional survey of physiotherapy practice trends and professional needs. Aust J Prim Health. 22(2):140-146.

Paul Y. Ellapen T. Barnard M. Hammill H. & swanepoel M. (2019). The health benefits of exercise therapy for patients with Down syndrome: A systematic review. Afr J Disabil. 2019; 8: 576.

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Undergraduate research implementation in physiotherapy: a hands-on and real experience of a randomised controlled trial

October 2023
BMC Medical Education 23(1)

Queen Mary, University of London

University of Deusto

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Research-based education in undergraduate occupational therapy and physiotherapy education programmes: a scoping review

Kjersti velde helgøy.

1 Center of Diakonia and Professional Practice, VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway

Tore Bonsaksen

2 Department of Health and Nursing Science, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Science, Elverum, Norway

3 Department of Health, Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, Sandnes, Norway

Kari Røykenes

4 Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, Bergen, Norway

Associated Data

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.

In a research-based learning environment, students learn how to become critical thinkers and lifelong learners, and to generate discipline-enriching knowledge. Research training is important for all healthcare professionals and the integration of research in education can be one approach to improve evidence-based practice among future professionals. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify studies reporting on research-based education in undergraduate occupational therapy and physiotherapy curricula to document the current state of knowledge and to map factors that reflect and support the implementation of research-based education in undergraduate occupational therapy and physiotherapy programmes.

A scoping review was used to systematically select and summarize existing literature. The search was conducted using a combination of keywords and MeSH terms in the following databases: EBSCO (Academic Search Elite, CINAHL, ERIC), MEDLINE, Embase, Education Source and grey literature. A thematic analysis identified strategies used to implement and promote research-based education in occupational therapy and physiotherapy bachelor programmes.

The database search identified 3068 records. 75 were eligible for full-text assessment and 27 studies were included. The studies were published between 1999 and 2021 and were conducted in Norway, Canada, South Africa, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, Ireland, Taiwan, Italy, and Iran. The study designs were mainly quantitative and qualitative, and studies included primarily occupational therapy and physiotherapy students. We identified the following four strategies: ‘student engagement in research’, ‘curriculum improvement regarding EBP’, ‘EBP teaching’ and ‘journal club’, where ‘EBP teaching’ was most frequently identified.

Conclusions

Findings from this scoping review suggest that ensuring students’ competence in research methods is necessary for students to be able to read and understand research articles, which are important as foundational skills in undergraduate research training. Journal clubs can be a foundation for student engagement with research literature, and students’ basic research skills may be facilitated through their involvement in research projects and by conducting systematic reviews. Further, cooperation with clinical practice is important, and the awareness of research-based education should be increased among both faculty members and students.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-022-03354-2.

In a research-based learning environment, students learn about research processes by developing research skills, such as the ability to critically analyse and reflect [ 1 ]. Research skills are necessary for future professionals, as previous studies have indicated that implementing clinical guidelines and research evidence into routine daily practice is challenging [ 2 , 3 ]. Based on the Sicily statement on evidence-based practice (EBP), all healthcare professionals need to adopt a critical stance towards their own practice and the underlying evidence [ 4 ]. Without such a critical stance, professionals will be unable to provide ‘best practice’. Professional education is believed to play an important role in the development of positive attitudes towards EBP skills [ 5 , 6 ]. One approach to improving EBP uptake in clinical practice is through the integration of research in education [ 7 , 8 ].

The link between research and teaching in higher education has been explored in several studies [ 1 , 9 – 19 ]. One strategy for linking research and teaching is to bring research into the classroom, e.g., through academics presenting their research relevant to the subject and discussing research outcomes and methods with students [ 1 ]. Different models of research-based education currently exist, and in this study we have used Huet’s model [ 1 ]. We included this model to guide our study since it is more recent and represents a further development of previous models within research-based education. This model uses the terms research-based teaching and research-led teaching. Research-based teaching occurs when students are engaged in research or research-related tasks, while research-led teaching occurs when teachers use their competence as researchers, or use research conducted by others, to inform teaching. In this model these terms are connected, and research and teaching are described as two integrated parts.

Previous studies have described strategies to support faculty in integrating research and inquiry in the curriculum [ 20 , 21 ]. Engaging students in research and inquiry from the beginning of their first study year has been recommended [ 20 ]; moreover ensuring coherence in curriculum planning as well as systematic thinking regarding how students can obtain skills to engage in research — whether that is reading research articles, taking part in research methods courses or participate in research projects — seems important [ 21 ]. Huet [ 1 ] has suggested four actions regarding the implementation of research-based education in the curriculum. First, clear guidelines for embracing a research-based education model are needed. Second, the time needed to conceptualize, plan and deliver research-based and research-led teaching approaches must be considered. Third, research and teaching should be considered as two integrated activities. Fourth, pedagogic support needs to be provided to develop learning and teaching strategies that are sustained in research-led or research-based approaches in the early stages of the programme. Based on these recommendations, it seems beneficial to embrace a research-based education model in the education programme, and to integrate this way of linking research and teaching in the organization of that programme [ 1 ].

Research-based undergraduate education has received increased attention in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Sweden [ 22 ]. In Norway, it is required that higher education is research-based [ 21 ]. According to the relevant legislation, education must be on the cutting edge in terms of research and development work [ 21 ]. Accreditation of health profession education programmes also has relevance for discussions regarding research-based education, as it is concerned with quality within teaching and research [ 23 ]. It has been argued that accreditation is essential to a profession as it ensures that students who have graduated are competent to practice safely and effectively [ 23 ]. To ensure research-based education, educators research competence is significant. Hence, in some countries, it is not uncommon to expect that approximately 25% of faculty members hold a PhD. In Norway, 20% of the faculty members teaching in bachelor programmes must hold a PhD or equivalent [ 24 ]. Research-based education has also been emphasized in a recent White Paper on quality in higher education, where research-based education is defined as education that is linked to a research environment; is conducted by staff who also carry out research; builds on existing research in a particular field; provides knowledge about the philosophy of science and research methods; and provides opportunities for students to learn how research is conducted from staff or students themselves conducting research as part of their studies [ 25 ]. This definition has some similarities with Huet’s [ 1 ] definition of research-based education, such as describing elements of both research-based and research-led education; however, the White Paper provides additional examples.

As such, research-based education and EBP are different concepts. Research-based education consists of an educational environment where academics and students teach and learn through inquiry and research [ 1 ], while EBP is concerned with using the best evidence from high-quality studies with a clinician’s expertise and patient’s preferences and values in the provision of healthcare [ 26 ]. Research-based education can take various forms, such as developing research skills through learning about research and research methods and taking part in research projects [ 21 ]. Further, it may vary according to the discipline [ 21 ]. In occupational therapy education, for example, learning outcomes have been described as ‘the candidate should have knowledge about EBP and knowledge about philosophy of science, research ethics and research methods, and how this has significance for knowledge development in occupational therapy’ [ 27 ]. Teaching methods related to EBP have relevance for research-based education, as EBP emphasizes that research should underpin clinical decisions. For professionals in occupational therapy and physiotherapy, EBP skills are important. Health-care graduates should be able to gain, assess, apply and integrate new knowledge, and one approach to achieve this is to train students in developing these skills through the five-step model of EBP [ 4 ]. Previous reviews have investigated teaching strategies focusing on EBP among various health educations [ 28 – 33 ]. Results indicate that EBP teaching in nursing should include knowledge transfer to clinical situations [ 29 , 31 ]; moreover, information literacy is considered among the most important competences for EBP [ 29 ], and a combination of lectures, seminars, discussion, exams, assignments, small-group work, team-based learning, case-study analysis and individual learning are recommended [ 30 ]. In previous reviews, multifaceted approaches—including lectures, tutorials, workshops and journal clubs—have also been found to be best-suited for teaching EBP to health students from programmes including medicine, physiotherapy and occupational therapy [ 32 , 33 ]. However, the majority of the included studies were not conducted among occupational therapy and physiotherapy students. Further, research courses, workshops and collaboration with clinical practice are recommended methods for teaching EBP to undergraduate healthcare students [ 28 ].

Compared to studies focusing on teaching strategies in EBP, fewer studies have investigated strategies to implement and support research-based education across healthcare programmes. However, one scoping review investigated research competencies among rehabilitation students, including physiotherapy and occupational therapy students [ 34 ]. Several core research competencies were identified in this study [ 34 ], and most fell within two research domains: inquiry/literature review and methodology/processes. Research competencies within the inquiry/literature review included recognizing gaps in the literature, searching for and locating relevant literature and critical evidence-appraisal skills. Within methodology/processes, research competencies such as knowledge of research design, data collection skills and data analysis skills were described. As the uptake and integration of research in education programmes is believed not only to improve students’ research skills but also to support their future use of research in practice, it is important to gain more knowledge about the ways in which research-based education is reflected and supported. Previous studies investigating research-based education are limited, especially in bachelor programmes in healthcare [ 22 ]. Studies concerned with occupational therapy and physiotherapy bachelor programmes seem particularly scarce compared to other programmes, and it is therefore important to gain more knowledge regarding research-based education in these education programmes. In this scoping review, the purpose was to identify studies reporting on research-based education in undergraduate occupational therapy and physiotherapy curricula to document the current state of knowledge. A further objective was to map factors that reflect and support the implementation of research-based education in undergraduate occupational therapy and physiotherapy programmes.

A scoping review was conducted to identify studies reporting on research-based education in occupational therapy and physiotherapy curricula, and to map factors that reflect and support the implementation of research-based education in these programmes. We followed the framework for scoping reviews developed by Arksey and O’Malley [ 35 ] and further developed by Levac et al. [ 36 ] and Khalil et al. [ 37 ]. We used a protocol based on Arksey and O’Malley’s framework [ 35 ] to address each of the five steps for undertaking a scoping review: 1) identifying the research question; 2) identifying relevant studies; 3) selecting studies; 4) charting the data; and 5) summarizing and reporting the results. The Joanna Briggs Institute Manual for Evidence Synthesis (hereafter, the JBI manual) was also used throughout the scoping review process to ensure a systematic methodology [ 38 ].

Step 1: identifying the research question

The objective of the current study was:

To explore the extent and range of research on research-based education conducted in occupational therapy and physiotherapy education.
To explore research methods and design used in research on research-based education in occupational therapy end physiotherapy education.
To explore strategies used to implement and promote research-based education in occupational therapy and physiotherapy education.

Step 2: identifying relevant studies

As recommended in the JBI manual [ 38 ], the search strategy was developed in consultation with a research librarian. The search strategy was reviewed by another research librarian before the search was conducted. This was an iterative process. Publications in English, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish published between 1 January 1990 to 15 June 2021 were included in this review. The searches were conducted in the following databases: EBSCO (Academic Search Elite, CINAHL, ERIC), MEDLINE, Embase and Education Source, using a combination of keywords and MeSH terms. These databases cover both health and education. Grey literature was searched for in Nora, Bibliotek DK, Libris, Norart, SveMed+, Bielefeld Academy Search Engine, CADTH, Current Awareness Service for Health, Copac, CORE, EThOS, King’s Fund, MedNar, NDLTD, OAIster, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, National Institute for Clinical Excellence and OpenGrey. Table 1 provides a list of specific search queries used in all databases.

Specific search queries used in all databases

Database	Search queries
ACADEMIC SEARCH ELITE	(Research skills OR inquiry-based learning OR research-based education OR research-based OR research-led OR research-oriented OR research evidence OR research skills OR evidence-based practice OR EBP OR research utilization OR inquiry-based learning) AND (occupational therapy education OR physical therapy education OR curriculum planning OR physiotherapy education OR curriculum development)
EDUCATION SOURCE	(Research skills OR inquiry-based learning OR research-based education OR research-based OR research-led OR research-oriented OR research evidence OR evidence-based practice OR EBP OR research utilization) AND (occupational therapy education OR physical therapy education OR curriculum planning OR physiotherapy education OR curriculum development)
CINAHL® with full text	(Professional practice, evidence-based OR learning methods OR research-based education OR research-based OR research-led OR research-oriented OR research evidence OR research skills OR evidence-based practice OR EBP OR research utilization OR inquiry-based learning) AND (education, occupational therapy OR education, physical therapy OR curriculum development OR occupational therapy education OR physical therapy education OR physiotherapy education OR curriculum development)
ERIC	(Research skills OR evidence-based practice OR research utilization OR research-based education OR research-based OR research-led OR research-oriented OR research evidence OR research skills OR evidence-based practice OR EBP OR research utilization OR inquiry-based learning) AND (curriculum development OR occupational therapy education OR physical therapy education OR physiotherapy education)
AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine	(Research-based education OR research-based OR research-led OR research-oriented OR research evidence OR research skills OR evidence-based practice OR EBP OR research utilization OR inquiry-based learning) AND (occupational therapy education OR physical therapy education OR physiotherapy education OR curriculum development)
EMBASE	(Evidence-based practice OR research-based education OR research-based OR research-led OR research-oriented OR research evidence OR research skills OR evidence-based practice OR EBP OR research utilization OR inquiry-based learning) AND (occupational therapy education OR physical therapy education OR curriculum development OR physiotherapy education OR curriculum development)
OVID MEDLINE	(Evidence-based practice OR research-based education OR research-based OR research-led OR research-oriented OR research evidence OR research skills OR evidence-based practice OR EBP OR research utilization OR inquiry-based learning) AND (occupational therapy education OR physical therapy education OR physiotherapy education OR curriculum development)

Step 3: selecting studies

The research librarian exported all search results into Rayyan, a web-based app for systematic reviews [ 39 ]. After the duplicates were excluded, two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts of the remaining articles for relevance to the research question and the inclusion/exclusion criteria. As recommended in the JBI manual [ 38 ], a pilot test was conducted by a research team before the included articles were read. In this pilot test, three full-text articles were read and assessed by three researchers, and full agreement among the researchers were reached. All full-text articles were then read and assessed. They were further checked for relevance by two independent reviewers. If there was any disagreement, a third reviewer was included in the process.

Inclusion criteria

Studies reporting on students and/or faculty members in occupational therapy and physiotherapy bachelor programmes were included. Studies with allied health students or faculty members were included if they also included occupational therapy and physiotherapy bachelor programmes.

Studies with research-based education as the main concept were investigated in this review. That is, studies were included if they emphasized research in education, such as students’ use of research, students’ learning of research skills (including research methods and philosophy of science), and student involvement in research. Further, included studies focused on use of educational strategies to promote and implement research in curricula. Studies investigating faculty members’ use of research in teaching and involvement in research projects were also included. Finally, included studies focused on EBP and research utilization in occupational therapy and physiotherapy bachelor programmes.

Included studies involved typical educational settings, e.g., classroom teaching, clinical placement or simulation training.

Exclusion criteria

Studies conducted among bachelor students in other health disciplines—such as nursing and radiography—were excluded. Studies including students from master’s degree education programmes were excluded, as were studies focusing on occupational therapy and physiotherapy clinicians. We also excluded studies presented in languages other than English, Danish, Norwegian or Swedish.

Step 4: charting the data

We used a pre-defined extraction form to analyse the results, as recommended in the JBI manual [ 38 ] (see Supplementary file Data Abstraction Table). The selected articles were reviewed by two independent reviewers. The data extraction tools formed the basis for the final presentation of the results in Tables 2 and and3. 3 . Study characteristics included first author, year of publication, title, country of origin, study design/purpose, study participants, context and main study findings. We used thematic analysis inspired by Aveyard [ 40 ] to identify strategies for implementing and promoting research-based education in occupational therapy and physiotherapy bachelor programmes. In accordance with Aveyard’s thematic analysis, we first identified themes from the results section of each included study. We used different colours to mark the parts that had relevance for our research questions. Further, we developed our themes by merging results with the same theme. Next, we named our themes after assessing the results from the included studies again, and then compared the themes to ensure that the names were suitable. The last step was to examine the themes, looking for similarities and differences in the material. Further, we analysed these to determine whether there were any recommendations regarding when to include the strategy in the curriculum, and where —i.e., in clinical placements, in the classroom or a combination of the two.

Study characteristics ( N = 27)

First author and year of publication	Country	Title	Design/purpose	Participants	Context	Main study findings
Bannigang 2009 [ ]	Canada	A Model of Professional Thinking: Integrating Reflective Practice and Evidence-Based Practice	A model presentation	Occupational therapy education	Classroom	Rather than teaching reflective practice and EBP as discrete subjects, ‘professional thinking’ should be taught as an overarching topic within curricula.
Boruff 2011 [ ]	Canada	Integrating Evidence-Based Practice and Information Literacy Skills in Teaching Physical and Occupational Therapy Students	A librarian and a faculty member designed an instructional activity that included a lecture, workshop and assignment that integrated EBP skills in the first year of the programme	Occupational therapy and physical therapy students ( = 104)	Classroom	The teaching activities developed for the students in this course appear to have achieved the goal of teaching students the EBP research cycle so that they might begin to emulate it. The collaboration between the faculty member and the librarian was integral to the success of this endeavour.
Burger 2014 [ ]	South Africa	Integrating Evidence-Based Principles Into the Undergraduate Physiotherapy Research Methodology Curriculum: Reflections on a New Approach	Qualitative	International experts	Classroom	Conducting a systematic review or meta-analysis to teach undergraduate students research methodology provides the opportunity for physiotherapy students to acquire basic research skills and become clinicians who provide EBP services.
Charumbira 2021 [ ]	South Africa	Research Competencies for Undergraduate Rehabilitation Students: A Scoping Review	Scoping review	Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy students	Classroom	A set of 45 research competencies were identified. It remains unclear which of these should be prioritized in the rehabilitation curriculum. This set may guide future consensus statements and allow educators to identify gaps in the curriculum.
Chia 2012 [ ]	United Kingdom	What’s in a Journal Club?	Qualitative Grey literature	Occupational therapy students	Classroom	Participation in journal clubs at an early stage provides a foundation for engagement with professional literature and the recognition of the importance of EBP.
Da Roit 2016 [ ]	Italy	Undergraduate Physiotherapy Students’ Competencies After a Reorganization of the Educational Pathways in EBP: Time and Type of Activity Are Relevant?	Quantitative comparative design (between first-, second- and third-year students) in physiotherapy Grey literature (paper presented at the 4th European Congress of the ER-WCPT/Physiotherapy)	Physiotherapy students ( = 101)	Classroom	A new multi-modal educational pathways was less effective in educating students in EBP; main reasons may be the reduction in amount of time dedicated to EBP, the lack of journal club activities and the lack of a formal assessment in the first year.
Du Toit 2010 [ ]	South Africa	Role of Research in Occupational Therapy Clinical Practice: Applying Action Learning and Action Research in Pursuit of Evidence-Based Practice	Qualitative	Occupational therapy students	Clinical placements	Engagement in small-scale research projects during clinical placements encouraged students’ engagement in research.
Emery 1999 [ ]	United States	Use of the Student-Oriented Learning Outline in Research Education Brief report	Mixed-methods investigation of how the Student-Oriented Learning Outline (SOLO) can be used to facilitate student learning in a research course	Occupational therapy students ( = 88)	Classroom	Although this use of the SOLO was limited to one institution, experience suggests that over four semesters, the SOLO was effective in helping to structure the research course to facilitate student learning.
Frantz 2009 [ ]	South Africa	Perceived Attitudes and Benefits Towards Teaching Evidence Based Practice among Physiotherapy Lecturers at Tertiary Institutions in South Africa	Quantitative within-stage mixed-model approach	Physiotherapy faculty members ( = 76) among 8 institutions	Classroom	Although the majority of respondents demonstrated a positive attitude towards teaching EBP, they reported finding it difficult to implement in practice. Despite barriers for teaching EBP, physiotherapy educators are encouraged to be proactive by improving teaching and encouraging teaching based on current, relevant research.
Govender 2019 [ ]	South Africa	Making Sense of Knowing: Knowledge Creation and Translation in Student Occupational Therapy Practitioners. Short research report	Pilot study (an exploration of occupational therapy students’ experiences in accessing, implementing and applying current knowledge in their clinical practice as students)	Final-year occupational therapy students ( = 24)	Clinical placements	Students seemed to have a general understanding of KT and initiated strategies that are simple and accessible, most of which related to gaining insight into specific intervention in occupational therapy practice.
Halle 2021 [ ]	Canada	Building Evidence-Based Practice Competencies among Rehabilitation Students: A Qualitative Exploration of Faculty and Preceptors’ Perspectives	Qualitative 7 focus groups and 1 individual interview with a sample of 24 faculty and 15 preceptors (i.e., clinical instructors)	Faculty and preceptors in occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech-language	Classroom and clinical placements	Improving collaboration between faculty and preceptors constitutes an essential first step towards more effective EBP training programmes that could be facilitated through online communities of practice or integrated knowledge translation research projects.
Helgøy 2020 [ ]	Norway	Research-Based Occupational Therapy Education: An Exploration of Students’ and Faculty Members’ Experiences and Perceptions	Qualitative focus groups	Occupational therapy final year students ( = 18) and faculty members ( = 12)	Classroom and clinical placements	Research was described as an important aspect of the occupational therapy bachelor programme to ensure necessary competence for offering future best practice. Students expressed a need to be introduced to research early and for higher expectations to be set regarding research. Competence in research methods and the importance of role models were also highlighted.
Hjelle 2008 [ ]	Norway	Integrating Evidence-Based Practice in an Occupational Therapy Programme in Bergen	To describe how EBP has been implemented in teaching and to describe research-based knowledge in relation to learning goals	Occupational therapy education	Occupational therapy education	There should be clear EBP competence goals and a progression, and research-based knowledge needs to be highlighted to a larger degree in the curriculum. The occupational therapy programme has a responsibility to ensure students’ learning of EBP skills.
Johnson 2020 [ ]	Norway	An Exploration of Evidence-Based Practice Work Files for Occupational Therapy Students during Clinical Placements: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study	Quantitative cross-sectional study	Second-year occupational therapy students ( = 126)	Clinical placements	Although few students were engaged in EBP, they all reacted positively to it. The students believed that EBP resulted in best clinical care for patients, but they lacked confidence in their own ability to apply EBP.
Lennon 2019 [ ]	Ireland	‘The More You Did, the More it Made Sense’: Problem-Based Learning to Improve Early Evidence-Based Practice in an Undergraduate Physiotherapy Professional Programme	Mixed methods	Physiotherapy undergraduate students completing stage 2 of a four-stage, entry-level professional programme	Classroom	Problem-based learning (PBL) is effective at promoting early EBP. Students identified with the interactive, collaborative, and experiential nature of PBL for EBP instruction.
Marais 2019 [ ]	Australia	Perceived Enablers and Constraints of Motivation to Conduct Undergraduate Research in a Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences: What Role Does Choice Play?	Qualitative exploratory descriptive study; semi-structured interviews	Five undergraduate programmes (human nutrition, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language and hearing therapy (the allied health programmes). Students ( = 10) and staff members ( = 11)	Classroom	To optimize student engagement in research, careful scaffolding of research activities need to be provided, allowing for sufficient choice to enable students to meet their needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
McEvoy 2011 [ ]	Australia	Entry-Level Evidenced-Based Practice Training in Physiotherapy Students: Does it Change Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours? A Longitudinal Study	Quantitative cross-sectional study	Entry-level bachelor’s ( = 72) and master’s physiotherapy students ( = 15)	Classroom	Completion of EBP courses resulted in significant change in all self-reported domains: relevance, sympathy, terminology, practice, confidence and actual knowledge.
Mercer 2002 [ ]	New Zealand	Academic Freedom in Physiotherapy Teaching	Opinion piece Grey literature	Physiotherapy education	Classroom	Academic freedom means the teaching staff’s right to be active in research and to have this research inform their teaching. All facets of physiotherapy education should be driven by cutting-edge research and reflect EBP.
Murphy 2019 [ ]	Australia	Improving Evidence-Based Practice in Healthcare Courses: A Participatory Action Research Multiple-Case Study	Qualitative grey literature Participatory action research methodology	Faculty members in a bachelor programme for nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy	Curriculum for a bachelor programme in nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy	All three courses already had strong references to EBP. Identified weakness included a lack of explicit teaching about the meaning, principles, steps and importance of EBP. A relative lack of emphasis on certain EBP steps was also noted, raising concerns about variable EBP education quality across clinical placements. Participatory Action Research seemed to be a highly constructive approach to EBP curriculum improvement.
Olsen 2013 [ ]	Norway	Evidence based practice in clinical physiotherapy education: a qualitative interpretive description	Qualitative focus groups: students’ use of EBP in clinical placements	Physiotherapy students ( = 16), clinical instructors ( = 9) and visiting teachers ( = 4)	Clinical placements	Students made an effort to search for research evidence and to apply the knowledge during clinical placements. However, they tended to lean on their clinical instructors and were more eager to gain practical experience than research information. Collaboration between academic and clinical practice is needed to improve competence in EBP among clinical instructors.
Olsen 2014 [ ]	Norway	Evidence-Based Practice Exposure and Physiotherapy Students’ Behavior During Clinical Placements: A Survey	Quantitative cross-sectional study	Third year physiotherapy students ( = 180) who had recently completed a clinical placement	Clinical placements	An association between the level of EBP exposure and physiotherapy students’ behavior was found for elements such as asking and searching, the ability to search for and critically appraise research evidence, and experience of critical appraisal as a barrier.
Snibsøer 2018 [ ]	Norway	Evidence-Based Practice Profiles Among Bachelor Students in Four Health Disciplines: A Cross-Sectional Study	Quantitative cross-sectional study using the Evidence-Based Practice Profile—Norwegian version	Final-year bachelor students in health disciplines from four educational institutions: occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nursing and radiography ( = 707)	Classroom	Bachelor students in health disciplines found EBP relevant, but revealed low understanding of EBP terminology, low confidence with EBP skills and low use of EBP in clinical situations. Educational institutions should develop comprehensive curricula where EBP teaching and learning is integrated throughout the entire study programme.
Thomas 2011 [ ]	Canada	Evidence-Based Practice: A Review of Theoretical Assumptions and Effectiveness of Teaching and Assessment Interventions in Health Professions	Review	A review of theoretical assumptions and effectiveness of teaching and assessment interventions in health professions		To successfully teach EBP, learning must be embedded within a socially constructed environment using authentic problems. EBP steps included in teaching and case-based methods have great potential for evoking both the knowledge and skills required for evidence-based decision-making.
Thomas 2012 [ ]	Canada	Evidence-Based Practice Behaviors: A Comparison Amongst Occupational Therapy Students and Clinicians	Quantitative cross-sectional study	Occupational therapy students ( = 51) and occupational therapy clinicians ( = 11)	Classroom	The study findings indicate that students showed a greater breadth of knowledge of the process of EBP as taught in the academic programme compared to clinicians.
West 2016 [ ]	United Kingdom	Exploring the Barriers and Facilitators to Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Physiotherapy Education: A Qualitative Study	Qualitative semi-structured interview Grey literature (conference paper)	Final-year physiotherapy students	Clinical placements	The findings from this project support the need for å shift in research culture and the way it is demonstrated to students. Further efforts need to be made to include EBP in the practical curriculum whilst students are on placements.
Wu 2007 [ ]	Taiwan	Teaching Evidence-Based Practice to Occupational Therapy Students During Psychiatry Fieldwork: A Curriculum at a University Hospital in Taiwan	Paper that describes the curriculum design of a university hospital in Taiwan employing EBP to future therapists	Occupational therapy students, faculty members and clinical instructors are in focus	Occupational therapy students, faculty members and clinical instructors are in focus	Based on the preliminary results of this curriculum, fieldwork education seems an ideal platform to train occupational therapy students in developing the habit of EBP.
Yousefi-Nooraie 2007 [ ]	Iran	Teaching Evidence-Based Practice: The Teachers Consider the Content	Delphi study	EBP teachers ( = 51)	Classroom	EBP courses should be simplified and critical appraisal should be limited to studies about therapy, and statistical measures should be reserved for advanced levels. Introduction to systematic reviews and searching for appraised evidence resources should be covered earlier in EBP courses.

Strategies used to implement and promote research-based education in occupational therapy and physiotherapy bachelor programmes

First author and year	Study participants/context	Key teaching strategies to implement/promote research-based education	Where to include in curriculum	When placed in curriculum
Bannigang 2009 [ ]	Occupational therapy education	EBP teaching	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Throughout the curriculum
Boruff 2011 [ ]	Occupational therapy and physiotherapy students	EBP teaching	At campus	Early in the curriculum/first year
Burger 2014 [ ]	EBP teachers	Student engagement in research	At campus	Late/final year
Charumbira 2021 [ ]	Allied health students (including occupational therapy and physiotherapy students)	Student engagement in research	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Not specified
Chia 2012 [ ]	Occupational therapy students	Journal club	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Early in the curriculum/first year
Da Roit 2016 [ ]	Physiotherapy students	EBP teaching	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Throughout the curriculum
Du Toit 2010 [ ]	Occupational therapy students	Student engagement in research	In clinical placement	Not specified
Emery 1999 [ ]	Faculty members (physiotherapy)	Student engagement in research	At campus	Not specified
Frantz 2009 [ ]	Occupational therapy students	EBP teaching	Not specified	Not specified
Govender 2019 [ ]	Faculty members in occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy	EBP teaching	In clinical placement	Not specified
Halle 2021 [ ]	Students and faculty members in occupational therapy	EBP teaching	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Not specified
Helgøy 2020 [ ]	Occupational therapy education	Student engagement in research	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Early and throughout the curriculum
Hjelle 2008 [ ]	Occupational therapy students	Curriculum strategies for incorporating EBP	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Throughout the curriculum
Johnson 2020 [ ]	Physiotherapy students	EBP teaching	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Not specified
Lennon 2019 [ ]	Allied health students (including occupational therapy and physiotherapy students) and faculty members	EBP teaching	At campus	Early in the curriculum/first year
Marais 2019 [ ]	Physiotherapy students	Student engagement in research	At campus	Not specified
McEvoy 2011 [ ]	Physiotherapy education	EBP teaching	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Not specified
Mercer 2002 [ ]	Faculty members (nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy)	EBP teaching	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Throughout the curriculum
Murphy 2019 [ ]	Students, faculty members and clinical instructors in physiotherapy education	Curriculum strategies for incorporating EBP	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Throughout the curriculum
Olsen 2013 [ ]	Physiotherapy students	EBP teaching	In clinical placement	Not specified
Olsen 2014 [ ]	Occupational therapy students	EBP teaching	In clinical placement	Throughout the curriculum
Snibsøer 2018 [ ]	Allied health students (including occupational therapy and physiotherapy students)	EBP teaching	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Throughout the curriculum
Thomas 2011 [ ]	EBP teaching and assessment interventions in health professions (a review)	EBP teaching	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Throughout the curriculum
Thomas 2012 [ ]	Occupational therapy students and clinicians	EBP teaching	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Not specified
West 2016 [ ]	Physiotherapy students	EBP teaching	In clinical placement	Not specified
Wu 2007 [ ]	Students, faculty members and clinical instructors in occupational therapy education	EBP teaching	In clinical placement	Late/final year
Yousefi-Nooraie 2007 [ ]	EBP teachers	EBP teaching	A combination between campus and clinical placement	Not specified

Literature search

A total of 3068 records were identified in the following databases: ERIC ( n = 595), Academic Search Elite ( n = 315), AMED ( n = 18), CINAHL with full text ( n = 1311), Education Source ( n = 388), Embase ( n = 359) and MEDLINE ( n = 82). The database search returned 2639 records after duplicates were removed. Further, grey literature was identified in 18 databases ( n = 210). One article [ 34 ] was recommended by another researcher, and we included this article in the review after we checked it against the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The entire process of study identification and inclusion/exclusion is presented in Fig. 1 .

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Modified PRISMA flow diagram illustrating the scoping review process

Study characteristics

Study characteristics are presented in Table 2 . Studies were spread across the years 1999–2021. The studies were conducted in Norway ( n = 6), Canada ( n = 5), South Africa ( n = 5), Australia ( n = 3), the United Kingdom ( n = 2), the United States ( n = 1), New Zealand ( n = 1), Ireland ( n = 1), Taiwan ( n = 1), Italy ( n = 1) and Iran ( n = 1). The study designs were qualitative ( n = 9), quantitative ( n = 9), mixed methods ( n = 2), review ( n = 2), opinion piece ( n = 1), model presentation ( n = 1), curriculum design ( n = 2) and designing and implementing teaching activities ( n = 1). Study participants included physiotherapy students ( n = 5), occupational therapy students ( n = 5), allied health students (including occupational therapy and physiotherapy students; ( n = 2), occupational therapy and physiotherapy students ( n = 1), EBP teachers ( n = 2), faculty members ( n = 4), students and faculty members ( n = 2), students, faculty members and clinical instructors ( n = 2), occupational therapy students and clinicians ( n = 1), occupational therapy education ( n = 2) and physiotherapy education ( n = 1).

Step 5: summarizing and reporting the results (synthesis of results)

Based on a thematic analysis of the included studies ( n = 27), we identified strategies to implement research-based education in occupational therapy and physiotherapy bachelor programmes. We also tried to identify where the strategies could be included in the curriculum and when they could be placed in the curriculum. The included studies were classified into four major themes: ‘student engagement in research’ ( n = 6), ‘curriculum improvement regarding EBP’ ( n = 2), ‘EBP teaching’ ( n = 18) and ‘journal club’ ( n = 1). These strategies are presented in Table 3 .

Strategies for implementing research-based education across physiotherapy and occupational therapy bachelor programmes

Only one of the included studies focused on research-based education. Two of the included studies investigated curriculum improvement regarding EBP. The majority of the included studies focused on EBP teaching ( n = 18). Although only one of the studies recommended journal clubs as the main strategy, several of the other studies also recommended journal clubs as a strategy. Findings from the four identified themes are described below.

Student engagement in research

Six of the included studies focused on student engagement in research [ 34 , 43 , 46 , 47 , 51 , 55 ], whereas only one study had a specific focus on research-based education [ 51 ]. In this study [ 51 ], emphasizing research in occupational therapy education was perceived as important to ensure students’ future best practice. Moreover, introducing research early in the programme, setting high expectations regarding students’ use of research and achieving skills in research methods were highlighted as necessary. The significance of role models both in clinical placements and among faculty members was described [ 51 ]. With regards to the other included studies focusing on research, two had a specific focus on student participation in research projects [ 46 , 55 ]. In one of these studies [ 46 ], occupational therapy students participated in small-scale research projects during their clinical placements and the action learning and action research (ALAR) model contributed to a scholarship of practice where the students, clinical educators and residents of a dementia unit all experienced the value of research. This study [ 46 ] indicated that the positive outcomes for students in clinical placements may be complemented by the positive outcomes for practitioners, as they, too, are able to participate in research towards EBP: the authors concluded that a positive approach to research as part of undergraduate training should therefore be emphasized. Further, among students in occupational therapy and physiotherapy programmes, engagement in research might be enhanced if students’ autonomy and influence on factors such as research participation, research topics and groups are structured in the curriculum [ 55 ].

Two of the other included studies recommended that student involvement in research could be facilitated by introducing students to systematic reviews [ 66 ] and by students themselves to conduct systematic reviews [ 43 ]. The authors argued that such experience will give students the opportunity to acquire basic research skills and become clinicians who provide EBP services in clinical practice [ 43 ]. Moreover, they recommended that introduction to systematic reviews and searching for appraised evidence resources should be covered earlier in EBP courses [ 66 ]. In one study, the use of a Students-Oriented Learning Outline in Research Education (SOLO) was effective in helping to structure the research course to facilitate student learning. A SOLO provides a structure for learning objectives, special instructions and feedback on student progress, as well as flexibility for faculty members to include a variety of instructional methods [ 47 ]. Further, 45 research competencies for undergraduate rehabilitation students were identified, in which research methodology and research inquiry/literature reviews are best represented [ 34 ]; in this study, five recommendations regarding strategies to develop research and EBP competencies among undergraduates were suggested: collaboration, teaching methods/curriculum design, supervision, assessment and translation of research evidence.

Curriculum improvement regarding EBP

Two of the included studies, conducted in Norway and Australia, focused on improving the curriculum regarding EBP [ 52 , 58 ]. Here, based on evaluation of EBP in healthcare courses, participatory action research methodology was a recommended approach for curriculum improvement [ 58 ]. Moreover, authors argued that there should be clear EBP competence goals and a progression, and research-based knowledge needs to be highlighted to a larger degree in the curriculum [ 52 ].

EBP teaching

The majority of the included studies focused on EBP teaching [ 41 , 42 , 45 , 48 – 50 , 53 , 54 , 56 , 57 , 59 – 66 ]. Several of these studies recommended teaching and learning EBP in clinical placements in addition to the classroom [ 49 , 53 , 56 , 57 , 59 , 64 – 66 ]. Findings indicate that EBP in clinical placements can serve as an ideal platform for collaboration between students, occupational therapy faculty members and clinical instructors. Further, EBP teaching and workshops during clinical placements is necessary and journal clubs have been suggested as a way to foster collaboration [ 65 ]. EBP teaching should be integrated in routine clinical practice and be considered a real-time continuous and flexible process [ 66 ].

Collaboration with clinical practice regarding EBP

Four of the included studies focused on collaboration with clinical practice regarding EBP [ 50 , 53 , 59 , 64 ]. Further efforts to include EBP in clinical curricula was emphasized by West [ 64 ], who highlighted the importance of collaboration between students and clinical instructors and the impact of attitudes held by clinicians. The use of discussion groups in clinical placements between students and supervisors and the use of research in treatment plans have been recommended in physiotherapy education [ 59 ]. In occupational therapy education, Johnson [ 53 ] highlighted that EBP teaching and its associated assignments should include the active involvement of both students and clinical instructors. Moreover, faculty members should involve and collaborate with clinical instructors, so that students can present and discuss the results of research articles and implement EBP in clinical placements: journal clubs might represent one way to foster this kind of collaboration between students and clinical instructors [ 53 ]. Collaboration with practice to achieve more effective EBP training—such as through online communities of practice or integrated knowledge translation research projects— has also been suggested [ 50 ].

EBP teaching strategies

Regarding EBP teaching in classroom, one study recommended more time for EBP, journal club activities and a formal assessment in the first year [ 45 ]. McEvoy [ 56 ] argued that an EBP course in combination with clinical placements resulted in significant changes in students’ self-reported domains regarding EBP. There should be a link between academic subjects and practice: two of the included studies had a focus on physiotherapy faculties teaching [ 48 , 57 ], where Frantz [ 48 ] argued that physiotherapy educators should be proactive by improving teaching and encouraging teaching based on current, relevant research. The authors of [ 61 ] argued that physiotherapy teaching staff have the right to be active in research and to have this research inform teaching, and that all facets of physiotherapy education should be driven by cutting-edge research and reflect EBP. One of the studies [ 65 ] focused on problem-based learning (PBL) as an approach to EBP instruction, concluding that PBL promotes improvement in EBP skills, communication, teamwork and EBP team self-efficacy. Further, scaffolded learning for early stage EBP competence is required and a PBL approach allowed greater emphasis on research processes. EBP training should be emphasized throughout the curriculum [ 60 , 61 ], allowing repetition, consolidation and application of EBP knowledge and skills [ 61 ]. The importance of teaching all EBP steps has been highlighted in two of the studies [ 62 , 63 ] and case-based methods were suitable for students EBP learning [ 62 ]. One of the studies [ 56 ] highlighted that professional thinking should be taught as an overarching topic within curricula where EBP is included. Collaboration between the faculty member and the librarian was a success in teaching students EBP skills [ 42 ]. Strategies for students to be able to translate knowledge to practice have been suggested, including discussions with peers and clinicians, hands-on practice in the application of knowledge in research projects and the use of knowledge tools and social media [ 49 ].

Journal club

One of the included studies had a specific focus on the use of journal clubs in occupational therapy education [ 44 ]. In this study, the journal club was included in the first year of the programme and the authors recommended the use of journal club in small groups of approximately 12 students with a subgroup of 3 students [ 44 ]. The authors highlighted participation in journal clubs at an early stage as a foundation for engagement with professional literature and the recognition of the importance of EBP. Five of the other included studies also recommended use of journal clubs in addition to other teaching strategies [ 45 , 49 , 52 , 53 , 65 ]. Journal club was not a part of their study design, however. One of these studies highlighted that student- and clinician-driven journal clubs are recommended among occupational therapy students related to knowledge translation [ 49 ]. The use of journal clubs has also been suggested to strengthen the cooperation between occupational therapy students, scientific staff and clinical instructors [ 52 , 53 , 65 ]. A recommendation from one of the studies is that, among physiotherapy undergraduates, the use of journal clubs should be increased in the curriculum [ 45 ].

Where and when to include the strategy in the curriculum

Five of the included studies [ 42 , 43 , 47 , 54 , 55 ] recommended that the teaching strategy be included on campus, 6 [ 46 , 49 , 59 , 60 , 64 , 65 ] recommended that it be included in clinical placements and 15 [ 34 , 41 , 44 , 45 , 50 – 53 , 57 , 58 , 61 – 63 , 66 , 67 ] recommended a combination between campus and clinical placements. One of the studies [ 48 ] did not specify this aspect. Four of the included studies [ 42 , 44 , 51 , 54 ] recommended including the teaching strategy early in the curriculum, two [ 43 , 65 ] recommended its inclusion in the final year/late stages of the curriculum and eight [ 41 , 45 , 52 , 57 , 58 , 60 – 62 ] proposed that it be included throughout the curriculum. Thirteen of the studies did not specify when the teaching strategy should be included in the curriculum.

In this scoping review, the purpose was to identify studies reporting on research-based education in undergraduate occupational therapy and physiotherapy curricula to document the current state of knowledge. Further, an objective was to map factors that reflect and support the implementation of research-based education in undergraduate occupational therapy and physiotherapy programmes. Based on a systematic and thorough process, 27 studies were included. Of these studies, 16 were published within the last 10 years, indicating an increased perceived importance of training students to be critical users of research. The current state of knowledge indicates that studies investigating research-based education are scarce. The majority of the studies focused on aspects of EBP; however, EBP and research-based education are different concepts. The goal of EBP is to use the highest possible quality of knowledge in providing care to ensure the greatest impact on patients’ health status and healthcare outcomes [ 26 ]. EBP entails making professional decisions based on systematically retrieved research evidence, experiential knowledge and patient preferences in a given situation [ 4 , 68 ]. By contrast, research-based education has a wider focus and is more concerned with creating a learning environment where academics and students teach and learn through inquiry and research [ 1 ]. Further, research-based education consists of both research-led and research-based teaching [ 1 ]. Nevertheless, EBP has relevance for discussions regarding research-based education when it comes to using research evidence in professional practice. With regards to implementing and supporting research-based education in occupational therapy and physiotherapy programmes, we identified the following four strategies: ‘student engagement in research’, ‘curriculum improvement regarding EBP’, ‘EBP teaching’ and ‘journal club’. The majority of the included studies recommended implementing the suggested strategy in a combination of classroom and clinical placements and throughout the curriculum. Since 13 of the included studies did not specify where to include the strategy in the curriculum, it is difficult to make conclusions regarding the timing of each of the suggested strategies. The findings discussed below are related to the strategies most frequently identified in our thematic analysis and discussed in light of previous research, conceptual frameworks and curriculum strategies regarding research-based education.

Studies included in the current review highlight the importance of emphasizing research in the education programme to ensure that students have the skills to provide future best practice [ 51 ] and develop students research skills and competence [ 34 , 43 , 51 , 66 ]. This may be accomplished by participation in research projects [ 46 , 55 ]. Previous research among occupational therapy and physiotherapy students has identified positive attitudes towards research, particularly related to reading research literature and applying research findings to improve practice [ 69 ]. Learning research skills to improve practice and benefit healthcare outcomes has also been highlighted as important in nursing education, where student–faculty collaborative projects have been recommended [ 70 , 71 ]. This is in agreement with previous research in medical education, where developing students research skills has been highlighted as important for ensuring that students make informed decisions in their future practice [ 72 ]. Moreover, student participation in research has improved their scientific productivity, knowledge, interest and attitudes towards research [ 73 , 74 ]. Based on the reviewed literature relating to occupational therapy and physiotherapy education programmes, it appears important that students’ engagement in research clearly links with professional practice. Moreover, students need to develop research skills suitable to provide future best practice; one approach is by introducing research methods to students early and facilitating participation in inquiry-based activities throughout the education programme. Studies investigating inquiry-based activities and students’ engagement with research appear to be useful: these will hopefully expand in number and scope, as more knowledge regarding students’ experiences and learning outcomes from such activities is needed.

Regarding curriculum, clear EBP competence goals and a progression has been suggested, and research-based knowledge should be highlighted to a larger degree [ 52 ]. This is in line with policy documents, such as those from the World Federation of Occupational Therapists [ 75 ] and World Physiotherapy [ 76 ]. These documents recommend a curriculum that includes critical thinking, problem-solving, EBP, research and lifelong learning [ 75 ], and encourage and support a curriculum which is evidence-based/informed and develops students’ research skills [ 76 ]. Moreover, physiotherapists’ education framework emphasizes EBP, literature searches and reviews, research methodologies and research in physiotherapy education [ 77 ]. This is in agreement with the AMEE Guide [ 78 ], which centres on curriculum design related to developing undergraduates’ research skills in medical education. In this guide, it is highlighted that medical students must understand research methods and the benefits that research brings to their profession. Students’ active participation in research activities is suggested, and adopting a student-centred approach in the curriculum may facilitate developing students research skills [ 78 ]. Here, suitable methods may include project-based learning, case-based learning, inquiry-based learning or PBL methodologies within the curriculum design [ 78 ]. The role of accreditation will also have an impact on the integration of research in the curriculum, as the expectations of both faculty members’ and students’ research skills may increase [ 23 ]. Further, accreditation has the potential to improve health-care outcomes, with its ability to influence and standardize the quality of education programmes [ 23 ]. Strengthening the research integration in curricula had a positive effect on research-related student learning outcomes among first-year medical students [ 79 ].

Few of the included studies in our review focused on curriculum design or improvement; instead, the focus was mainly on EBP. However, previous studies have focused on strategies to support faculty in teaching students research and inquiry [ 20 , 21 ]. It has been argued that engaging students in research and inquiry early on and ensuring a progression in research and inquiry in the education programme is important [ 20 ]. Further, ensuring systematic thinking and coherence in the curriculum regarding how students can obtain the needed skills to engage with research has been highlighted [ 21 ]. Moreover, inquiry-based learning seems to be one of the key aspects of research-based education, and student-active learning can be beneficial for developing students’ analytical and critical thinking skills [ 21 ]. Huet [ 1 ] focused on implementing research-based education in curricula and recommended four actions to succeed. First, the institution must have clear guidelines for embracing a research-based education model at all levels of the study programme. Second, the institutional policies must take into account the time needed to conceptualize, plan and deliver research-based and research-led teaching approaches. Third, the importance of facilitating a culture of research and teaching must be highlighted as two integrated activities. Fourth, academics must be provided with pedagogic support, preparing them to develop learning and teaching strategies that are sustained in research-led or research-based approaches in early stages in the curriculum. Based on these recommendations, it seems beneficial to embrace a research-based education model in the education programme and to integrate research with teaching in the organization of that programme. Related to occupational therapy and physiotherapy curricula the emphasis on research should be increased to ensure that students have research skills that can benefit their professional practice and healthcare outcomes. Learning and teaching strategies may be designed in agreement with research-based teaching and research-led teaching [ 1 ].

The most frequently identified strategies in our review were related to EBP teaching. Findings from these studies indicate that the teaching and learning of EBP should be emphasized in clinical placements [ 49 , 53 , 56 , 57 , 59 , 64 – 66 ] and in collaboration with clinical practice [ 50 , 53 , 59 , 64 ]. Further, early EBP education led to adequate knowledge, confidence and positive attitudes [ 56 ]. Teaching should be based on cutting-edge research and reflect EBP [ 57 ], and educators should be proactive by improving teaching and encouraging teaching based on current research as well as being active in research themselves [ 48 ]. Having research inform teaching and educators be active in research projects coincides with research-led teaching, as described by Huet [ 1 ]. However, Huet emphasized that educators do not need to be active researchers or perform cutting-edge research, but they do need to be engaged in a scholarly manner within their field [ 1 ]. Moreover, findings from studies included in our review indicate that all the EBP steps should be included in teaching [ 62 , 63 ]: this is in agreement with previous research that indicates that most EBP educational interventions focus on teaching only some of the EBP steps [ 80 ]. Further, multifaceted approaches including lectures, tutorials, workshops and journal clubs have also been found to be beneficial when teaching EBP to health students from programmes such as medicine, physiotherapy and occupational therapy [ 32 , 33 ]. Among professional bachelor degree healthcare programmes, research courses, workshops and collaboration with clinical practice are recommended as methods for teaching EBP [ 28 ].

Summarizing the above, collaboration with clinical practice and emphasizing teaching and learning of EBP in clinical placements seems to be beneficial in occupational therapy and physiotherapy education programmes; further, multifaceted approaches in teaching EBP should be emphasized, and teaching activities could be based on cutting-edge research and reflect EBP.

Findings from studies included in our review indicate that journal clubs are a well-suited means to increase students’ engagement with professional literature and to recognize the importance of EBP [ 44 ]. Journal clubs may be suitable as a method for students to implement research skills in clinical placements and to facilitate collaboration with clinical instructors [ 52 , 53 , 65 ]. Moreover, journal clubs have been proposed to support knowledge translation [ 49 ], and more frequent use of journal clubs in undergraduate curricula has been advocated [ 45 ]. Similar to the findings in our review, previous studies have argued that journal clubs can assist students’ EBP learning process [ 81 ] and add to their EBP skills, particularly regarding students’ ability to search the literature and to comprehend and appraise research articles [ 82 ]. However, other studies did not find improvement in critical appraisal skills from students’ participation in journal clubs [ 83 – 85 ]; nevertheless, students have reported an overall positive experience from participating in them, especially with a view towards discussing research utilization [ 86 ]. Further, journal clubs can be suitable as a learning and collaboration method between education and practice [ 87 , 88 ]. Previous reviews among medical students, as referenced by Young et al. [ 33 ], have described a positive effect of journal clubs as a method for teaching EBP [ 83 – 85 , 89 ].

We did not identify many studies investigating journal clubs among occupational therapy and physiotherapy students, and more studies are needed. In view of the above, it appears that implementing journal clubs in occupational therapy and physiotherapy education can offer advantages, such as improving students’ searching and reading skills, helping them stay up-to-date and facilitating research utilization in clinical placements and future practice. Journal clubs can be introduced in the first year as a part of a research or EBP course, facilitated by academic staff.

What can be learned from this scoping review?

Based on the findings from our review, knowledge regarding research-based education and strategies to support the implementation of research-based education in occupational therapy and physiotherapy curricula are scarce. EBP has been emphasized to a greater degree in studies in these programmes, and more knowledge is needed to implement research-based education in curricula. Only one of the included studies explored research-based education [ 51 ]. However, some elements of both research-led and research-based teaching were described in the included studies. Emphasizing students’ active involvement in research projects, conducting systematic reviews and participation in journal clubs may be perceived as a practical means of implementing research-based teaching. Similarly, research-led teaching is exemplified by educators who utilize cutting-edge research findings and use their own research to support their teaching.

Research training is important for all health science professions [ 34 ], and in professional programmes such as occupational therapy and physiotherapy it is important that the emphasis on research is linked to professional practice and implementing research as a part of EBP. As described earlier, EBP and research-based education are different concepts. However, EBP has relevance for discussions regarding research-based education when it comes to using research evidence in professional practice. As highlighted by Brew, ‘some of the best examples of undergraduate students engaging in inquiry processes in order to learn come from professional areas. As professions become increasingly evidence based, valuing the use of research as an integral part of professional practice, students are also increasingly being required to engage in inquiring into aspects of practice in order to learn’ ([ 90 ] , p. 19). Creating a research-based learning environment thus has benefits for occupational therapy and physiotherapy students, as they can learn how to become critical thinkers and lifelong learners and to generate discipline-enriching knowledge [ 1 ]. These skills are important for their future professional practice.

Implications for educational practice

Based on the included studies in our review, we recommend that students’ learning of research methods should be prioritized. More methodological competence seems to be needed for students to be able to read and understand research articles—it is therefore foundational for undergraduate research training [ 34 , 51 ]. Research should be introduced early in the education programme, including introducing students to systematic reviews and searching for appraised evidence [ 66 ]. Involving students in research projects might be a good learning arena, as it may encourage students’ engagement in research and promote collaboration with clinical practice [ 46 , 55 ]. Students conduct systematic reviews could be emphasized, as this might provide basic research skills and encourage the use of EBP in future clinical practice [ 43 , 66 ].

The majority of the strategies identified in this review were related to ‘EBP teaching’. Based on the included studies, we recommend that the teaching and learning of EBP should take place in clinical placements in addition to classroom teaching [ 49 , 53 , 56 , 57 , 59 , 64 – 66 ]. Further, all EBP steps should be included in teaching where case-based methods may be a suitable approach [ 62 , 63 ]. It is recommended that educators should base their teaching on current relevant research and be active researchers themselves [ 57 ]. Journal clubs should be emphasized in the curriculum as it can be a foundation for engagement with professional literature and the recognition of the importance of EBP [ 44 ]. Journal clubs have also been recommended as a means for cooperation between occupational therapy students, scientific staff and clinical instructors [ 52 , 53 , 65 ]. Moreover, there should be increased focus on research-based knowledge in the curriculum, and progression needs to be ensured [ 52 ]. To succeed with implementing research-based education, awareness of the research-based education model should be increased in education programmes, and different teaching and learning strategies should be explored [ 1 ]. Elements of research-based education should be reinforced at all level of the study programme, and introduced early [ 1 ]. Relevant organizational units, such as faculties and departments, must take responsibility for raising students’ and educators’ awareness of the importance of linking research and education, and how the implementation and use of research in education can be promoted in different ways [ 1 ]. In professional programmes such as occupational therapy and physiotherapy, research-based education will preferably be designed such that learning and teaching activities are relevant to the specific fields of professional practice [ 22 , 51 ].

Strengths and limitations

A strength with this scoping review is that it complies with the key steps outlined in the Arksey and O’Malley 2005 [ 35 ] framework, and further developed by Levac et al. 2010 [ 36 ] and Khalil et al. 2016 [ 37 ], to systematically select and summarize existing literature focusing on research-based education. We also used the JBI manual for conducting scoping reviews to ensure a systematic methodology [ 38 ]. Our scoping review presents an overview of existing literature describing research-based education in occupational therapy and physiotherapy bachelor programmes. However, some limitations need to be addressed. There is a possibility that relevant studies were included in this review, although several databases and grey literature were searched. The quality of the included studies was not assessed as a part of this scoping review, as according to Arksey and O’Malley [ 35 ] there is no attempt made to present a view regarding the ‘weight’ of evidence in relation to particular interventions or policies. This is because the scoping study does not seek to assess quality of evidence and consequently cannot determine whether particular studies provide robust or generalizable findings.

This scoping review has provided an extensive overview of literature describing research-based education in occupational therapy and physiotherapy programmes. However, only a few of the included studies in this review had specifically investigated aspects of research-based education. The most frequently identified strategies in our review were related to EBP teaching. Overall, our findings show that ensuring students’ competence in research methods is necessary for students to be able to read and understand research articles, which are important foundational skills in undergraduate research training. Journal clubs may give students a foundation for engaging with research literature. Moreover, students’ basic research skills may be facilitated through their involvement in research projects and by conducting systematic reviews. Cooperation with clinical practice is important in occupational therapy and physiotherapy education. Faculty members should be proactive by improving teaching based on current, relevant research, and the awareness of research-based education should be increased among both faculty members and students.

Based on our findings, research-based education appears to be a new and relatively unexplored research field in the context of occupational therapy and physiotherapy education programmes, and we argue that more studies investigating research-based education in these programmes are needed. As so few of the included studies focused on faculty members, more studies among faculty members—concerning their views, experiences and practices related to research-based education—are needed. Moreover, future research could investigate viable and effective strategies for teaching research methods to undergraduate healthcare students, students’ learning outcomes regarding research methods and students’ research skills and involvement in research projects. Further, cooperation between education programmes and clinical placements regarding research implementation should be explored. Scant studies investigating curriculum design for integrating research seem to exist, and more such studies are needed in this area. Future studies may benefit from investigating curriculum design in accordance with research-based education curriculum and based on the policy documents concerned with implementing research and developing students’ research skills.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participants who volunteered to take part in this study. In addition, we would like to thank the librarian Anna Kirsten Nygaard (VID Specialized University, Bergen, Norway) for conducted the literature searches and the librarian Irene Hunskår (VID Specialized University, Bergen, Norway) for reviewing the search strategy. We would also like to thank Nina Rydland Olsen (Department of Health and Functioning, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway) for her ideas and supervision at an early stage of the work with this scoping review. In addition, we would like to thank Jens-Christian Smeby (Centre for the Study of Professions, OsloMet—Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway) for his ideas and critical reading of this manuscript.

Authors’ contributions

KVH was the project manager of this study. KVH and KR screened all titles and abstract. All authors were involved in the process of checking full-text articles for relevance. KVH and KR performed a synthesis of study results and interpreted the data. KR and TB provided scientific input for the manuscript drafts, approved the final version to be published and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of this work.

Not applicable.

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None declared.

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Physiotherapy

School of Health Sciences and Social Work
Learning and Teaching

Translating physiotherapy research into practice

Our researchers investigate advanced techniques and evidence-based care to better diagnose, treat and prevent a wide range of health conditions and movement disorders. Research within this discipline focuses on repairing damage, reducing stiffness and pain, increasing mobility and improving quality of life. This discipline has two areas of research focus and strength:

Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation.

Our research

The primary research aim of the group is to use physiotherapy-based interventions to improve short and long-term outcomes in patients with acute and chronic disease including intensive care, burns, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiac disease, pulmonary hypertension, lung transplantation, heart transplantation, cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis.

Research topics

Physiological/psychological factors that limit functional capacity in health and disease
Risks and benefits of environmental heat exposure in chronic disease
Mechanisms of breathlessness in disease
Physiotherapy practice in intensive care
Physiotherapy interventions to improve outcomes in burns patients

Lead researchers

Professor Norm Morris, The Prince Charles Hospital & Griffith University
Professor Jenny Paratz, The Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital & Griffith University

Equipment and facilities

A rage of on-campus facilities can be found here.

Clinical sites: Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMRI, located TPCH), portable metabolic systems (Cortex Metamax, located TPCH, RBWH and GU), electronically braked cycle ergometer (Lode), PhysioFlow (portable cardiac output, TPCH), DXA for measurement of body composition (RBWH) and devices for measuring physical activity (Sensewear armbands and pedometers). At each of the clinical sites, researchers have access to clinical investigations including the examination of cardiac function (invasive and non-invasive), lung function, haematology and neurological function.

Key Collaborators

Gold Coast University Hospital (Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine, Intensive Care, Community Health)
The Prince Charles Hospital (Thoracic Medicine, Richard Slaughter Centre for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cardiology, Heart and Lung Transplantation, Intensive Care)
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane (Intensive Care, Burns, Emergency Department, Thoracic Medicine)
The Princess Alexandria Hospital, Brisbane
The Mayo Clinic, Rochester/Scottsdale USA
Menzies Health Institute Queensland
Menzies Institute of Medical Research
University of Tasmania
The University of Sydney

Research Funding

The National Health and Medical Research Council
The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Foundation
The Prince Charles Foundation
Health Innovation, Investment and Research Office
Actelion Pharmaceuticals
Intensive Care Foundation

PhD Candidates

Name	Research topic
Julie Adsett	Exercise-based rehabilitation for stable heart failure.
Craig Aitken	Towards Individualising Rehabilitation: Identifying factors which limit exercise tolerance in chronic heart and lung disease.
Bryce Balmain	Thermoregulatory responses to exercise in the heat in heart failure
Donna Hickling	Body composition, nutritional status and functional status of patients pre-and post-lung transplant.
Aaron Lin	Exercise responses in pulmonary hypertension using exercise MR.
Sharon Kwiatkowski	Investigation of home-based exercise for severe COPD.
Orlando Flores	Reversing metabolic changes post burn injury.
Lisa Franks	Personalising Airway Clearance In Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis.

Research Masters

Name	Research topic
Amanda Baker	Patient centred principals in goal setting practices in rehabilitation.
Jemima Boyd	Exercise for mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care.
Kate Burton	Physical activity levels and inflammatory amongst adults with cystic fibrosis.
Rebecca Kelly	Physical Activity following heart transplantation.
Lauren O'Connor	Physical Activity following heart transplantation
Maureen Peasey	Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Physical Activity in COPD.
Georgia Taylor	Effect of folate supplementation on endothelial vascular function in heart failure patients.

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Our clinical and experimental research aims to improve the understanding of the pathophysiology of common musculoskeletal conditions and to optimise their clinical diagnosis and management. Furthermore, we aim to reveal the underlying working mechanisms of physiotherapy-based interventions. We aim to improve short and long-term outcomes in people with acute and chronic conditions, such as back and neck pain, neuropathies, tendinopathies, concussion, persistent pain and sport-related injuries. We are also interested in the impact of systemic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer (and cancer treatment), on the musculoskeletal system. We use a wide range of research designs, ranging from mechanistic studies to large-scale RCT’s, and use a wide variety of methods.

Pain modulation, including central sensitisation, in acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions
Neuro-immune responses in people with persistent musculoskeletal pain
The effect of exercise and manual therapy on low-grade systemic inflammation and neuro-immune responses in the central nervous system in people with neck pain
Psychosocial factors in patients with musculoskeletal conditions at risk of developing persistent pain
Sports injury prediction and prevention in elite and community athletes, including hamstring injuries and shoulder injuries
Motor control training for people with low back pain
Sport-related concussion in elite and adolescent athletes
Effect of prolonged bed rest on trunk and hip muscles
Use of ultrasound imaging technologies in physiotherapy assessment and treatment
Neurophysiological mechanisms underpinning chronic pain in tendinopathy
Tissue biomechanics in tendinopathy
Professor Michel Coppieters, Menzies Foundation Professor of Allied Health Research
Professor Julie Hides, Deputy Head of School, School of Allied Health Sciences
Associate Professor Leanne Bisset, Discipline Lead Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences
Dr Daniel Harvie, NHMRC Post-doctoral research fellow

The Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy research team consists of 12 people, consisting of staff and postdoctoral research fellows.

Frequently used methods and facilities

Facilities on campus: Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Labs

Quantitative sensory testing
Diagnostic ultrasound imaging
Gait analysis
Electromyography
Motion analysis
Balance assessment
Proprioception assessment
Vestibular system assessment
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Endogenous analgesia and pain modulation assessment

Access to advanced medical imaging (off campus)

MRI / MRI-Diffusion Tension Imaging

Key collaborating institutions

Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast
Mater Health Services, South Brisbane
QSCAN Radiology Clinics
Allsports Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine
The Hopkins Centre
Lions FC, Brisbane.
Queensland Academy of Sport, Brisbane.
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania
European Space Agency
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
The Clinical Trials Centre, Griffith University

Research funding

Gold Coast University Hospital Foundation
Health Innovation, Investment and Research Office (Queensland Health)
UK Space Agency
Allsports Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine Clinics

Name	Research topic
Eva Sierra-Silvestre
Nick Olthof
Felix Leung
Nigel Smith
Laura Schwab

Connor Lambert
Ellen Armstrong
Ramona Clark
Steven Watson
Adrien Cerrito

Name	Research topic
Hayley Thomson
Courtney Bounds
Lee Corey	Endogenous pain modulation in athletes: a longitudinal observational study.
Ben Goodlich

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‘There’s so much to it’: the ways physiotherapy students and recent graduates experience practice

Published: 08 December 2017
Volume 23 , pages 387–406, ( 2018 )

Cite this article

S. Barradell ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9823-0060 1 , 2 ,
T. Peseta 2 , 3 &
S. Barrie 2 , 3

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Health science courses aim to prepare students for the demands of their chosen profession by learning ways appropriate to that profession and the contexts they will work and live in. Expectations of what students should learn become re-contextualised and translated into entry-level curriculum, with students operating as a connection between what is intended and enacted in curriculum, and required in the real world. Drawing on phenomenology, this paper explores how students understand practice —the collective, purposeful knowing, doing and being of a community—in entry-level physiotherapy programs. Ways of thinking and practising (WTP)—a framework attentive to the distinctive nature of a discipline, its values, philosophies and world-view (McCune and Hounsell in High Educ 49(3):255–289, 2005 )—provides the conceptual lens. Six themes describing how students see the WTP of physiotherapy practice emerged from the analysis: discovery of new knowledge ; problem solving client related contexts ; adopting a systems based approach to the body ; contributing to a positive therapeutic alliance ; developing a sense of self and the profession ; and the organisation of the workforce . The study produces knowledge about practice by focusing on physiotherapy students’ experiences of disciplinary learning. Including students in educational research in this way is an approach that can help students realise their potential as part of a community of practice.

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Barradell, S., Peseta, T. & Barrie, S. ‘There’s so much to it’: the ways physiotherapy students and recent graduates experience practice. Adv in Health Sci Educ 23 , 387–406 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-017-9804-z

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Received : 26 February 2017

Accepted : 23 November 2017

Published : 08 December 2017

Issue Date : May 2018

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-017-9804-z

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151+ Research Topics For Physiotherapy Students [Updated]
Remember, choosing a research topic is an exciting journey. Embrace the opportunity to contribute to the field of physiotherapy, improve patient care, and expand your knowledge and skills. 151+ Research Topics For Physiotherapy Students: Category Wise Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. Effectiveness of Kinesio Taping in Ankle Sprains
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Observational Research Topics for undergraduate Physiotherapy Students. Discover the research topics for physiotherapy students in different fields: Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Research Topics. 1. The efficacy of manual therapy in treating chronic lower back pain. 2. Investigating the role of exercise in preventing and managing osteoarthritis. 3.
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Topic 4: Evaluating the impact of strengthening exercises on diabetic patients with shoulder pain. Topic 5: An analysis of the implications of strengthening exercises on alleviation of lower back pain and cervical pain. Topic. 6: Physiotherapy vs. chiropractic. Topic. 7: Why Physiotherapy is beneficial.
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Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in improving movement and well-being. This guide will help you identify intriguing research topics that can elevate patient care. From exploring muscle function and nerve pathways to understanding the effects of aging and managing sports injuries, this list is designed to inspire and guide you.
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1. Write down one or two specific topics of interest to you in your discipline (e.g. in P.T., Nursing, O.T., Athletic Training, Mental Health, etc.).. Examples: In medicine, there may be discrepancies about the best practices for reducing X condition in a certain type of patients.
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Keywords: Physiotherapy, Undergraduate research, Evidence-based practice. Background. The development of research skills at higher education is considered a challenge where the institutions and lecturers try to combine educational and research attitudes, ... These were based, combined, and integrated on the theoretical topics described in Fig. ...
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Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the gold standard approach in physiotherapy, and it is essential that students are aware that it is the appropriate way to provide the patient with the best possible treatment. Undergraduate research (UR) can positively influence learning outcomes and research competencies related to EBP compared to traditional methods of higher education.
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Paul Y. Ellapen T. Barnard M. Hammill H. & swanepoel M. (2019). The health benefits of exercise therapy for patients with Down syndrome: A systematic review. Afr J Disabil. 2019; 8: 576. Physiotherapy Dissertation Topics - over 40 free, excellent Master & Bachelor dissertation topics will help you get started with your proposal or dissertation.
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Research Aim: This research title is one of the ortho project topics for physiotherapy, which examines femur breakdown and its effects on the weakness of leg muscles. The study finds out the role of physio techniques in recovering dead leg muscles after femur breakdown. Since the femur is the largest bone of the human body which bears the whole-body weight, its fracture causes a lot of ...
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High-Impact Research from PTJ. The latest Journal Citation Reports (Journal Citation Reports™, from Clarivate, 2022) have now been released, and I am pleased to announce that PTJ continues to grow its impact within the physical therapy and rehabilitation communities. To mark PTJ's continued growth, this selection of highly cited articles has been made free to read.
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Centre of Research Excellence - Newborn Medicine. Early detection and intervention for infants at high risk of motor impairments. Motor trajectories of children born <30 weeks' gestation from birth to 5 years: early predictors and functional outcome. The feasibility of smart-phones in the early detection of cerebral palsy.
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Our research. The primary research aim of the group is to use physiotherapy-based interventions to improve short and long-term outcomes in patients with acute and chronic disease including intensive care, burns, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiac disease, pulmonary hypertension, lung transplantation, heart transplantation, cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis.
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Here are 100+ of the physical therapy topics for your dissertation & Research Papers that you can select for your academic program. ... I would like to ask for help, specifically choosing for a research topic for an Undergraduate Physical Therapy student. There are restrictions in creating titles since it is still covid era. Reply. Harshita ...
'There's so much to it': the ways physiotherapy students and recent
Health science courses aim to prepare students for the demands of their chosen profession by learning ways appropriate to that profession and the contexts they will work and live in. Expectations of what students should learn become re-contextualised and translated into entry-level curriculum, with students operating as a connection between what is intended and enacted in curriculum, and ...
Current research projects
Physiotherapy Rehabilitation for Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture (PROVE) Karen Barker, Muhammad K Javaid, Meredith Newman, Catherine Minns Lowe, Tamsin Hughes, Nigel Stallard, Jose Leal, Varsha Gandhi, Sallie Lamb. Objective: to evaluate the effects of exercise and manual therapy physiotherapy treatments upon quality of life, function and pain ...
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Frequency of depression, anxiety and stress among the undergraduate physiotherapy students.. PubMed. Syed, Annosha; Ali, Syed Shazad; Khan, Muhammad. 2018-01-01. To assess the frequency of Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DAS) among the undergraduate physiotherapy students.A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in various Physiotherapy Institutes in Sindh, Pakistan among ...
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Introduction. The international goals of physiotherapy education are life-long learning and professional development, which includes evidence-based practice and professional skills that address different needs in a variety of settings (World Physiotherapy, Citation 2019).The future of physiotherapy addresses prevention, promotion, and wellness within various sectors of society, in clinics ...
The Music Computing Lab, The Open University
Reflecting the close relationships between music, mind, brain, body, perception, cognition and physicality, the music computing lab also plays a key role in diverse research projects in digital health, covering topics such as musculo-skeletal and neurological gait rehabilitation, wearables for physiotherapy and management of type 1 diabetes.

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151+ Research Topics For Physiotherapy Students: Category Wise

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111+ Top Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

What are the Research Topics in Physiotherapy?

Importance of Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

Advancement of Knowledge

Skill Development

Patient Care Improvement

Career Opportunities

Professional Growth

How do I Choose a Topic for Physiotherapy Research?

1. Identify Your Interests

2. Review Current Literature

3. Consult with Mentors

4. Consider Feasibility

5. Think About Impact

6. Narrow it Down

7. Research Ethics

Observational Research Topics for undergraduate Physiotherapy Students

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Research Topics

Neurological Physiotherapy Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Research Topics

Pediatric Physiotherapy Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

Sports Physiotherapy Research Topics

Geriatric Physiotherapy Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

Women’s Health Physiotherapy Research Topics

Orthopedic Physiotherapy Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

Occupational Health Physiotherapy Research Topics

Pain Management Physiotherapy Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

Rehabilitation Technology Research Topics for Physiotherapy Students

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Physiotherapy Dissertation Topics – Industry-Oriented Suggestions

Want to know what essay structure and style will work best for your assignment?

Physiotherapy Dissertation Topics

Topic 2: A comparison of the effectiveness of underwater aerobic exercises and manual knee exercises in the rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis.

Topic 3: An investigation into the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound and resistance training for rheumatoid arthritis.

Topic 4: Evaluating the impact of strengthening exercises on diabetic patients with shoulder pain.

Topic 5: An analysis of the implications of strengthening exercises on alleviation of lower back pain and cervical pain.

Topic. 6: Physiotherapy vs. chiropractic

Topic. 7: Why Physiotherapy is beneficial

Topic. 8: Future of physiotherapy

Topic. 9: Physiotherapy vs. Orthopedic surgery

Topic. 10: Effectiveness of mirror therapy for stroke patients

Topic. 11: Physiotherapy for athletes

Topic. 12: Effective methods of physiotherapy

Topic. 13: Physiotherapy vs. other medical treatments

Topic. 14: Physiotherapy and lower back pain

Topic. 15: Ankylosing spondylitis and physiotherapy