Clinical Practice Guidelines

In 2006, the Orthopaedic Section began a project to use the International Classification of Functioning and Disability (ICF) to develop evidence-based practice guidelines that will enhance diagnosis, intervention, prognosis, and assessment of outcomes for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions commonly managed by physical therapists. In the April issue of JOSPT, the first of an ongoing series of evidence-based practice guidelines will be published. These guidelines were developed using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as the basis for describing and classifying care provided by physical therapists to patients with a variety of musculoskeletal conditions.

The Orthopaedic Section began the process to develop these practice guidelines in 2006. The ICF is a new model of disablement that was developed by the World Health Organization in 2001. In the ICF model, functioning and disability are classified in terms of body structure and function as well as in terms of activity and participation of the individual. The ICF model will be used to classify common musculoskeletal conditions, such as adhesive capsulitis, acute low back pain, patellofemoral pain and ankle sprains, in terms of impairment of body structure and function, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. These ICF classifications will be used to develop evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis, intervention, prognosis, and assessment of outcome. It is believed that these guidelines will advance orthopaedic physical therapist practice and could be used to guide professional and postprofessional education and to establish an agenda for future clinical research.

Contact Us

Brenda Johnson
ICF-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines Coordinator
Email: bjohnson@orthopt.org * 800-444-3982 ext. 2130

Guy Simoneau, PT, PhD
ICF-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines Editor

Christine McDonough PT, PhD
ICF-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines Editor

Stephen McDavitt, PT, DPT, MS, FAAOMPT
Orthopaedic Section President