Winstein Carolee, Pate Patricia, Ge Tingting, Ervin Carolyn, Baurley James, Sullivan Katherine J, Underwood Samantha J, Fowler Eileen G, Mulroy Sara, Brown David A, Kulig Kornelia, Gordon James, Azen Stanley P
Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-9006, USA.
Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 Nov;87(11):937-50. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0b013e31816178fc.
This article describes the vision, methods, and implementation strategies used in building the infrastructure for PTClinResNet, a clinical research network designed to assess outcomes for health-related mobility associated with evidence-based physical therapy interventions across and within four different disability groups. Specific aims were to (1) create the infrastructure necessary to develop and sustain clinical trials research in rehabilitation, (2) generate evidence to evaluate the efficacy of resistance exercise-based physical interventions designed to improve muscle performance and movement skills, and (3) provide education and training opportunities for present and future clinician-researchers and for the rehabilitation community at-large in its support of evidence-based practice. We present the network's infrastructure, development, and several examples that highlight the benefits of a clinical research network. We suggest that the network structure is ideal for building research capacity and fostering multisite, multiinvestigator clinical research projects designed to generate evidence for the efficacy of rehabilitation interventions.
