Which are three common types of evidence used in physical therapy decision-making, with an example for each?

• A. Personal anecdotes, celebrity endorsements, and social media opinions
• B. Case reports, expert opinions, and folklore
• C. Primary studies (RCTs) - e.g., randomized trial on exercise for knee OA; systematic reviews (meta-analyses) - e.g., meta-analysis on stroke rehab; clinical guidelines - e.g., guidelines on safety with modalities
• D. Laboratory assays, genetic sequencing, and imaging-only reports

Answer: (C)

In physical therapy decision-making, you rely on information that is tested for real-world effectiveness and can guide practical care. The best-supported types of evidence include primary studies like randomized controlled trials that directly test an intervention, such as a trial comparing a specific exercise program to usual care for knee osteoarthritis to see if symptoms improve. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses then pull together results from multiple studies to estimate overall effectiveness and check consistency across different settings, for example a meta-analysis on stroke rehabilitation outcomes that shows whether certain therapies consistently help recovery. Clinical practice guidelines synthesize the highest-quality evidence and translate it into actionable recommendations for clinicians, such as guidelines on the safe and effective use of modalities. Taken together, these sources help determine what works, for whom, and under what circumstances, rather than relying on personal stories, endorsements, folklore, or isolated diagnostic tests that don’t address treatment effectiveness.