This paper is a critical exploration of research techniques used in the context of physiotherapy. It will analyse the current trends, methods, and theories involved in physiotherapy and the various types. It will also discuss the benefits and challenges of each type of physiotherapy and will conclude by exploring the potential implications of these techniques for the practice’s future.
To locate relevant literature on the topic, two different databases were used. Firstly, MEDLINE searched for articles using the keywords ‘physiotherapy,’ ‘sports physiotherapy,’ ‘Parkinson’s physiotherapy,’ ‘telehealth physiotherapy,’ and ‘implications of physiotherapy.’ Secondly, the ScienceDirect database was searched for articles containing the same keywords. Secondly, the Cochrane Library was searched using the exact keywords. Two primary research studies were selected from the literature as the focus of this paper by Radder et al. (2020) and Thomas et al. (2020).
The first study by Radder et al. (2020) aimed to assess the effectiveness of physiotherapy treatments for Parkinson’s disease. The study was conducted at the Radboud University Medical Centre in Nijmegen, Netherlands, and was sponsored by ParkinsonNet and the Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy (Radder et al., 2020). They explain that physiotherapy is an important component of treating Parkinson’s disease, although there is still a lack of evidence regarding the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available evidence on the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions for Parkinson’s disease. The study included 16 randomised controlled trials. The authors say that it provides a comprehensive overview of the evidence for the effectiveness of different physiotherapy interventions in managing Parkinson’s disease (Radder et al., 2020)
The purpose of the second study by Thomas et al., 2020, is to provide clinical practice recommendations for physiotherapy management for patients with COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting. This article was conducted in the Faculty of Medicine / USP Rua Dr Ovídio Pires de Campos in brazil and sponsored by SciELO (Thomas et al., 2020). The authors explain that physiotherapy management is important in the acute hospital setting for patients with COVID-19, as it can reduce the risk of complications, improve physical function and quality of life, and reduce mortality and length of stay.
The research methods used in the two primary studies are similar. Both studies used systematic reviews and meta-analyses to assess the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions in different contexts. Both studies also used evidence-based clinical practice recommendations to guide physiotherapy management. The two studies differ regarding the patient populations studied and the interventions evaluated. The first study focused on the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions for Parkinson’s disease, while the second focused on physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting.
The two papers employed a range of research techniques and procedures. For example, in the first paper, Radder et al. (2020) conducted a systematic review of the available evidence on the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions for Parkinson’s disease. The authors used the PRISMA guidelines to ensure the quality of the evidence and provide a comprehensive overview of the evidence for the effectiveness of different physiotherapy interventions in managing Parkinson’s disease. Similarly, in the second paper, Thomas et al. (2020) used evidence-based clinical practice recommendations to guide physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting. They used the GRADE methodology to assess the quality of the evidence and generate recommendations. The authors then used a thematic analysis approach to identify themes from the data. They applied descriptive statistical analysis to assess the trends and patterns in the data. Furthermore, a qualitative approach was selected to explore the implications of their findings.
Furthermore, the Radboud University Medical Centre’s Medical Ethical Committee reviewed and approved the study. They ensured that the research was conducted with respect for the dignity and autonomy of the individuals involved and that the rights and welfare of the participants were protected. They also ensured that the research was conducted ethically and professionally and that the data was collected, stored, and analysed by the relevant ethical and legal requirements. Similarly, the authors of Thomas et al. (2020) obtained informed consent from all participants and ensured that the rights and welfare of the participants were protected. Furthermore, the USP Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos Ethics Committee reviewed and approved the research before data collection.
In the second paper, Thomas et al. (2020) used qualitative methods to explore the implications of their findings. They interviewed health professionals and patients to gain insight into the implications of the recommendations for physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting. They also conducted focus group discussions to identify further implications from the data. They ensured that the research was conducted in a manner that was respectful of the human participants and that the data was collected and analysed in a manner that was consistent with ethical principles and guidelines.
In paper one, the researcher adopted a paradigm of positivism, while in paper two, the researcher adopted a paradigm of interpretivism (Ranganathan et al., 2021). The positivist paradigm collects quantitative data and uses statistical methods to analyse the data. The interpretive paradigm focuses on collecting qualitative data and using interpretive methods to analyse the data (Ranganathan et al., 2021). The two studies used different research techniques and procedures to assess the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions. The first study used a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions for Parkinson’s disease (Ranganathan et al., 2021). The second used evidence-based clinical practice recommendations to guide physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting. The authors of both studies ensured that the research was conducted ethically and professionally and that the data was collected, stored, and analysed per the relevant ethical and legal requirements (Stoikov et al., 2022).
Even though these two paradigms are considered similar, there are some differences between the approaches that should be taken when designing a research study (Ostelo, 2020). For example, when using a positivist approach, the emphasis is on collecting and analysing quantitative data and using statistical methods to analyse the data (Ostelo, 2020). On the other hand, when using an interpretive approach, the emphasis is on collecting and analysing qualitative data and using interpretive methods to analyse the data. Furthermore, when using a positivist approach, the researcher should focus on the replicability and generalizability of the results, while when using an interpretive approach, the researcher should focus on understanding the meaning and context of the data (Ostelo, 2020).
These two paradigms integrate the best available evidence with clinical expertise to deliver quality care and improve patient outcomes (Ostelo, 2020). The evidence-based practice relies on integrating evidence from research, clinical expertise, and patient values and preferences to provide the best possible care for patients (Ranganathan et al., 2021).
Both studies used semi-structured telephone interviews and focus group discussions as qualitative methods to explore their findings’ implications. Semi-structured telephone interviews effectively collect qualitative data, allowing the researcher to ask open-ended questions and explore topics in more detail (Dario & Simic, 2021). Focus group discussions are also useful for collecting qualitative data, as they allow the researcher to explore topics more in-depth and better understand the participants’ perspectives (Dario & Simic, 2021). Furthermore, both methods allow the researcher to identify common themes and patterns in the data.
In the first paper, Radder et al. (2020) used a thematic analysis approach to identify themes from the data. They used descriptive statistical analysis to assess the trends and patterns in the data. Furthermore, they used a qualitative approach to explore the implications of their findings (Radder et al., 2020). In the second paper, Thomas et al. (2020) used qualitative methods to explore the implications of their findings. They interviewed health professionals and patients to gain insight into the implications of the recommendations for physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting. They also conducted focus group discussions to identify further implications from the data (Thomas et al.,2020)
Semi-structured interviews are an effective research technique for exploring participants’ experience in physiotherapy (Søndenå, Dalusio-King, & Hebron, 2020). They allow researchers to gain an in-depth insight into the lives of patients and their caregivers and to identify areas for improvement in current practice (Thomas et al., 2022). Furthermore, they can provide valuable information to health and social care providers, enabling them to make informed and evidence-based decisions about the care they provide (Mbada et al., 2019).
Semi-structured interviews are time-consuming and require a skilled interviewer, while focus group discussions can be difficult to manage, particularly if there are many participants. Furthermore, both techniques require the researcher to be sensitive to the participants’ needs, as they can be emotionally charged (Moseley et al., 2020). Secondly, focus groups require active participation from all participants, which can be challenging to achieve (Moseley et al., 2020). Therefore, the researcher must consider each technique’s strengths and weaknesses when deciding which is most appropriate for the research.
Each researcher from these projects was used in purpose sampling when selecting their participants. For example, the authors of Radder et al. (2020) used purposeful sampling to select participants for their systematic review and meta-analysis. They used the PRISMA guidelines to ensure the quality of the evidence and provide a comprehensive overview of the evidence for the effectiveness of different physiotherapy interventions in managing Parkinson’s disease (Radder et al., 2020). Similarly, the authors of Thomas et al. (2020) used purposive sampling to select participants for their evidence-based clinical practice recommendations.
Purpose sampling is an important research technique in physiotherapy, enabling researchers to select a sample representative of the population of interest (Nazardani et al., 2022). Furthermore, it ensures that the data collected is relevant to the research questions (Bouça‐Machado et al., 2020). Therefore, researchers must consider the appropriateness of purpose sampling when selecting participants for their research (Minghelli et al., 2020).
The technique uses an appropriate sample from the population which is easier to analyse and also gives more accurate results. It is important to consider the population size, the sample size, and the sample’s characteristics when conducting research in physiotherapy (Tack, 2019). Furthermore, it is important to consider the research’s ethical implications and obtain informed consent from all participants (Tack, 2019). The researcher from paper one recruited participants by searching the literature, while the researcher from paper two recruited participants by searching the literature and conducting semi-structured interviews (Tack, 2019).
It is important to consider each technique’s strengths and weaknesses when deciding which is most appropriate for the research (Tack, 2019). Searching the literature is useful for gathering data from published sources. However, it is important to consider the quality and validity of the data (Tack, 2019). Furthermore, it is important to consider the research’s ethical implications and obtain informed consent from all participants. Semi-structured interviews are useful for gathering data from participants; however, they require a skilled interviewer and can be time-consuming (Tack, 2019). Furthermore, it is important to consider the research’s ethical implications and ensure that the participant’s rights and welfare are respected.
Qualitative research produces text usually created through written responses to surveys and interviews. This data type is often analysed using thematic analysis, which involves exploring, organising, and coding data to identify themes and patterns (Andrade et al., 2020). Thematic analysis is an important research technique in physiotherapy, as it enables researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of the data and identify areas for improvement in current practice. Furthermore, it can provide valuable insights for health and social care providers, enabling them to make informed and evidence-based decisions about their care (Troosters et al., 2019).
In order to enhance the credibility of their work, the researcher from paper one decided to have the research reviewed by the American Society of Neurorehabilitation (Rossettini et al., 2020). These steps are important when conducting research in physiotherapy. They ensure that the research is conducted ethically and professionally and that the data is collected and analysed by the relevant ethical and legal requirements (Rossettini et al., 2020). Therefore, researchers must be aware of the ethical considerations when conducting research in the context of physiotherapy (Rossettini et al., 2020)
The researcher from paper two decided to have the research reviewed by the USP Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos Ethics Committee prior to data collection. (Ødegaardet et al., 2021)It is an important step when conducting research in the context of physiotherapy, as it ensures that the research is conducted ethically and professionally and that the data is collected and analysed by the relevant ethical and legal requirements (Ødegaardet et al., 2021). Furthermore, it is important to obtain informed consent from all participants (Ødegaardet et al., 2021). The researcher should also consider the potential implications of the research for the participants and ensure that the research is conducted in a manner that is respectful of the human participants (Ødegaardet et al., 2021).
Both of these researchers used peer review to enhance the credibility of their work (Ødegaardet et al., 2021). Peer review is an important research technique in physiotherapy, as it ensures that the research is rigorous and high-quality. Furthermore, it enables researchers to obtain feedback from field experts and identify potential flaws in the research. Another credibility comes from the use of the evidence-based practice. This technique integrates evidence from research, clinical expertise, and patient values and preferences in order to provide the best possible care for patients (López-Liria et al., 2021).
One more theme was identified from the paper results compared to paper two. Paper one identified the need for further research to provide more robust recommendations and to improve patient outcomes (Radder et al., 2020). It is an important theme in physiotherapy, as it highlights the importance of further research to improve patient outcomes and provide more effective treatments (Radder et al., 2020). On the other hand, Paper two identified themes such as the implications of the recommendations for physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting. It is an important theme in physiotherapy, as it provides insight into the implications of the recommendations for physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting (Radder et al., 2020).
Research has identified key findings through a literature review and critiqued the methods used. Even though the papers are slightly different, they have identified similar issues. The first is that research shows a need for more understanding from patients and healthcare professionals on physiotherapy interventions (Radder et al., 2020). The second is that evidence-based practice can improve patient outcomes. Finally, the papers identified the need for further research to provide more robust recommendations and to improve patient outcomes. Finally, research has identified that evidence-based practice is essential in helping healthcare providers make informed and evidence-based decisions about the care they provide.
In conclusion, research techniques used in physiotherapy are varied and depend on the specific research questions being addressed. The two primary studies used different research techniques and procedures to assess the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions. It is important to consider each technique’s strengths and weaknesses when deciding which is most appropriate for the research. Furthermore, it is important to consider the research’s ethical implications and obtain informed consent from all participants. Finally, evidence-based practice is essential in helping healthcare providers make informed and evidence-based decisions about their care.
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