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.

Download


You Might Also Like...

News

FTC Drops Legal Appeals, Abandons Noncompete Rule

Oct 8, 2025

In August 2024, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas permanently barred the Federal Trade Commission's ban on employee noncompetes.

News

Now Available: APTA Practice Advisory on Primary Care Physical Therapy

Oct 8, 2025

Primary care physical therapy highlights the role of physical therapists as integral members of a patient's primary care team. It's important for PTs and

News

APTA Flash Action Strategy 2025: 8,500 Falls Prevention Letters Sent to Congress

Oct 6, 2025

Thousands of PT and PTA students participated in APTA’s Flash Action Strategy,  Sept. 17-18, by creating social media posts and videos promoting falls