Skip to main content

The Research Agenda for Physical Therapy expands on our profession's continued advancement and considers current issues, new innovations, and forward-thinking viewpoints. The research agenda outlines research priorities that are vital to advancing physical therapist practice and the profession. The development of the research agenda included multiple iterative steps and feedback from stakeholders.

The agenda has 6 key areas of focus: population health research, mechanistic research, clinical research, education and professional development research, health services research, and workforce research. Researchers, funding agencies, and public policy makers can use the research agenda to concentrate research efforts around these areas.

For more on the development of the research agenda, go to PTJ Article page.

View the APTA Research Agenda infographic below or download the full infographic PDF.

Graphic: APTA research agenda

Download


You Might Also Like...

News

APTA, Provider and Patient Groups Push Major Reforms to Prior Authorization

Mar 25, 2026

APTA has joined a broad coalition of national provider and patient organizations to release a new policy framework aimed at tackling one of the most persistent

Article

Policy Progress and Patient-First Thinking: Takeaways from the 2026 Maley Panel

Mar 23, 2026

APTA Board member Kelley Kubota, PT, DPT, MS, moderated the John H.P. Maley Clinical Impact Lectureship Award panel featuring William Boissonnault, PT,

Article

APTA Offers Insights on the Strategic Implementation of AI in Health Care to HHS

Mar 18, 2026

In February, APTA submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in response to their Request for Information: Accelerating the