Clinical reasoning in physiotherapy development

Academic pursuit in physiotherapy has not paralleled the types of activity seen in similar professions, such as nursing and occupational therapy, but a radical change has occurred as physiotherapists recognized the need to evaluate their own practice in pursuit of professional autonomy.

Abstract

Academic pursuit in physiotherapy has not paralleled the types of activity seen in similar professions, such as nursing and occupational therapy. Physiotherapy has traditionally been seen as a ‘doing’ profession and attention to less practical aspects of practice perhaps has had a lower profile. This is demonstrated by the fact that until 1975, physiotherapy research was thin on the ground and predominantly medically controlled (Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, 1992). Since then, a radical change has occurred as physiotherapists recognized the need to evaluate their own practice in pursuit of professional autonomy.