Understanding Physiotherapy Research

Understanding Physiotherapy Research by Littlewood and May is an introductory level text that aims to be accessible and understandable to all physiotherapists who appreciate the need to integrate research evidence into their practice. The requirement for physiotherapists to engage with evidence-based practice has never been more apparent and the benefits of such an approach are clear. Evidence derived from research is a cornerstone of evidence-based practice, but before such evidence can be incorporated into an evidence-based paradigm, it should be appraised and its trustworthiness and applicability considered. This means that evidence-based physiotherapy practitioners need to be aware of the inherent strengths and limitations of research studies and what these mean for their practice. However, this is not always a straightforward process and it is not uncommon for both novice and experienced physiotherapists to become lost in the language of research. To facilitate the evolution of evidence-based physiotherapy practice, this book aims to bridge the gap by presenting a clinically focused range of methodological discussions in relation to specific research study designs in physiotherapy. The intention of the book is to offer a platform upon which readers can develop their understanding of meaningful critical appraisal and consequently gain confidence when reading published research.