Many physiotherapists have taken up the #MyPTArticleOfTheMonth challenge and have been sharing their reading with the global physiotherapy community. Most posts have been articles reporting the results of randomised controlled trials. There have also been posts about reviews, large cohort studies, and diagnostic studies. The importance of evaluating treatment fidelity and the reporting of 95% confidence intervals in trials.

Do you need some ideas for your monthly reading? Here’s what others have been reading during the challenge:

Trials (all score 8/10 on the PEDro scale)

• Effectiveness of isolated hip exercise, knee exercise, or free physical activity for patellofemoral pain: a randomized controlled trial
• Is hip strengthening the best treatment option for females with patellofemoral pain? A randomized controlled trial of three different types of exercises
• Rehabilitation after immobilization for ankle fracture: the EXACT randomized clinical trial
• Education plus exercise versus corticosteroid injection use versus a wait and see approach on global outcome and pain from gluteal tendinopathy: prospective, single blinded, randomised clinical trial
• Effect of a four-week virtual reality-based training versus conventional therapy on upper limb motor function after stroke: a multicenter parallel group randomized trial
• Kinesio Taping does not provide additional benefits in patients with chronic low back pain who receive exercise and manual therapy: a randomized controlled trial

Reviews

• The efficacy of lower extremity mirror therapy for improving balance, gait, and motor function poststroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
• Assessment of outcomes of inpatient or clinic-based versus home-based rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis
• Effect of Pilates exercise for improving balance in older adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Large cohort study

• Beneficial associations of low and large doses of leisure time physical activity with all-cause, cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality: a national cohort study of 88,140 US adults

Diagnostic study

• Conundrum of mechanical knee symptoms: signifying feature of a meniscal tear?

Evaluating treatment fidelity

• Using mixed methods to assess fidelity of delivery and its influencing factors in a complex self-management intervention for people with osteoarthritis and low back pain

Reporting 95% confidence interval

• Showing confidence (intervals)

Your ability to read scientific articles will improve with practice. Make the commitment to read at least one article per month and share your reading with the global physiotherapy community in #MyPTArticleOfTheMonth.