The Blind Men, the Elephant, and the Continuing Education Course: Why Higher Standards Are Needed in Physical Therapist Professional Development

SYNOPSIS: Evidence-based practice and implementing clinical practice guidelines are familiar themes for musculoskeletal rehabilitation clinicians. Yet, many clinicians continue to eschew recommended treatments. One explanation could be that physical therapists largely rely on continuing education courses - not research reports or standardized postprofessional education - to learn new treatments and update their practice patterns. However, continuing education courses in physical therapy have a much less rigorous review process, and interventions taught in these courses often conflict with high-quality evidence. The lack of rigor in continuing education may contribute to unwarranted variability in practice, which is a major threat to physical therapy. The current continuing competence paradigm in the United States, of which continuing education is a part, needs an overhaul to ensure clinicians learn current best evidence. Now is the time for change in professional development. We offer 3 suggestions to improve the current system of continuing competence in physical therapy.