To celebrate PEDro’s 20th birthday we have identified the five most important randomised controlled trials in physiotherapy published in the years 2014-2019. The trials were nominated by PEDro users, and an independent panel of international trialists judged the nominations received.

We are excited to announce the PEDro Top 5 Trials! These ground-breaking trials are from a broad cross-section of physiotherapy practice. The trials answer important clinical questions that will change the way people are treated for a variety of conditions seen by physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals. All of them mark important milestones in the evolution of physiotherapy treatment.

The trials are listed below in no particular order. We have produced short videos to summarise each trial.

Preoperative physiotherapy for the prevention of respiratory complications after upper abdominal surgery: pragmatic, double blinded, multicentre randomised controlled trial
Boden I, Skinner EH, Browning L, Reeve J, Anderson L, Hill C, Robertson IK, Story D, Denehy L
BMJ 2018;360:j5916

Exercises to improve function of the rheumatoid hand (SARAH): a randomised controlled trial
Lamb SE, Williamson EM, Heine PJ, Adams J, Dosanjh S, Dritsaki M, Glover MJ, Lord J, McConkey C, Nichols V, Rahman A, Underwood M, Williams MA, on behalf of the Strengthening and Stretching for Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Hand Trial (SARAH) Trial Team
Lancet 2015;385(9966):421-9

Hip arthroscopy versus best conservative care for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (UK FASHIoN): a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Griffin DR, Dickenson EJ, Wall PDH, Achana F, Donovan JL, Griffin J, Hobson R, Hutchinson CE, Jepson M, Parsons NR, Petrou S, Realpe A, Smith J, Foster NE, on behalf of the FASHIoN Study Group
Lancet 2018;391(10136):2225-35

Effect of inpatient rehabilitation versus a monitored home-based program on mobility in patients with total knee arthroplasty: the HIHO randomized clinical trial
Buhagiar MA, Naylor JM, Harris IA, Xuan W, Kohler F, Wright R, Fortunato R
JAMA 2017;317(10):1037-46

Efficacy and safety of very early mobilisation within 24 h of stroke onset (AVERT): a randomised controlled trial
The AVERT Trial Collaboration group
Lancet 2015;386(9988):46-55

You will be hearing more about these trials over the coming months, including podcasts with the lead authors produced by PT Pintcast.

Congratulations to the teams who produced the PEDro Top 5 Trials. Your contributions to physiotherapy are highly valued and appreciated. PEDro would also like to thank all the users who nominated trials and those who served on the independent judging panel.