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Clinical Practice Guidelines

To support evidence-based practice, we provide relevant clinical practice guidelines for APTA members. (These were previously housed at PTNow.) 

These CPGs are based on a systematic review of the evidence and published by APTA, APTA sections and academies, or by other health care associations, organizations, and societies. None of the CPGs were written by individuals. APTA does not endorse any of these guidelines unless specifically noted.

Guidelines are provided to assist in clinical decision making, not to take the place of clinician judgment.

Some CPGs include a CPG+ analysis, a translation aid for applying CPGs to practice, including an Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II, or AGREE II, conducted by a team of experts.

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Clinical Guidance to Optimize Work Participation After Injury or Illness: The Role of Physical Therapists

August 1, 2021 | CPG

Patient Age: Young Adult (19-24), Adult (25-44), Middle Aged (45-64)
Condition & Symptoms: Low Back Pain, Occupational Injuries

Clinical Guideline and Recommendations on Pre-operative Exercise Training in Patients Awaiting Major Non-Cardiac Surgery

May 31, 2018 | CPG

Patient Age: 80 and over (80+), Aged (65+), Middle Aged (45-64)

Clinical Practice Guideline for Diagnostic Testing for Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline

March 15, 2017 | CPG

Patient Age: Middle Aged (45-64), Adult (25-44), Aged (65+)
Condition & Symptoms: Sleep Disorders

Clinical Practice Guideline for Physical Therapist Management of People With Rheumatoid Arthritis

May 17, 2021 | CPG

Patient Age: Adult (25-44), Middle Aged (45-64), Aged (65+), 80 and over (80+)
Condition & Symptoms: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis

January 1, 2015 | CPG

Patient Age: Young Adult (19-24), Adult (25-44), 80 and over (80+), Aged (65+), Adolescent (13-18), Middle Aged (45-64)
Condition & Symptoms: Ankylosing Spondylitis, Osteoarthritis

Clinical Practice Guideline to Improve Locomotor Function Following Chronic Stroke, Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury, and Brain Injury (CPG+)

January 1, 2020 | CPG

Patient Age: 80 and over (80+), Middle Aged (45-64), Aged (65+), Adult (25-44), Young Adult (19-24)
Condition & Symptoms: Stroke

Clinical Practice Guideline: Bell's Palsy

November 1, 2013 | CPG

Patient Age: Preschool Child (2-5), Adolescent (13-18), Adult (25-44), Child (6-12), Aged (65+), Young Adult (19-24), Middle Aged (45-64), 80 and over (80+)

Clinical Practice Guideline: Meniere’s Disease

April 8, 2020 | CPG

Patient Age: Young Adult (19-24), Middle Aged (45-64), Adult (25-44)
Condition & Symptoms: Vestibular Conditions

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Cannabis and Cannabinoid-Based Medicines in the Management of Chronic Pain and Co-Occurring Conditions

March 27, 2023 | CPG

Patient Age: Adult (25-44), Middle Aged (45-64), Aged (65+), 80 and over (80+)
Condition & Symptoms: Cancer, Chronic Pain, Depression, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, Multiple Sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Sleep Disorders

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pelvic Girdle Pain in the Postpartum Population

January 1, 2022 | CPG

Patient Age: Adult (25-44), Young Adult (19-24)
Condition & Symptoms: Pelvic Pain, Pregnancy

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Pain, Agitation/Sedation...

August 31, 2018 | CPG

Patient Age: Aged (65+), Middle Aged (45-64), 80 and over (80+), Adult (25-44)
Condition & Symptoms: Critical Illness

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Rotator Cuff Syndrome in the Workplace

January 1, 2013 | CPG

Patient Age: Adult (25-44), Middle Aged (45-64), Young Adult (19-24), Aged (65+), Adolescent (13-18)
Condition & Symptoms: Shoulder Conditions