STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive bibliometric analysis. BACKGROUND: Content and bibliometric studies are useful for describing the publication patterns of a given profession, such as physical therapy, within the medical and allied health fields. However, few studies have conducted these analyses on specialty physical therapy journals. OBJECTIVES: To conduct a content and bibliometric assessment of publications within the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT) and report publication and citation trends over multiple years. METHODS: All available JOSPT manuscripts published from 1980 through 2009 were reviewed. Only research reports, topical reviews, and case reports were included in the current analysis. Articles were coded by 2 independent reviewers based on type, participant characteristics, research design, purpose, clinical condition, and intervention. We obtained additional citation information (eg, authors and institutions) from a subset of articles published from 1992 through 2009 using bibliometric software. RESULTS: Of the 2233 available JOSPT publications, 1732 (77.6%) met criteria for inclusion. Of these, 1172 (67.7%) were research reports, 351 (20.3%) topical reviews, and 209 (12.1%) case reports. Over the last 30 years there has been a significant increase in the number of articles published and the percentage of research reports, systematic reviews, articles focused on prognosis, and articles including symptomatic participants. Percentage decreases were observed for topical or nonsystematic reviews and articles focused on anatomy/physiology. Top institutions, authors, and cited papers from 1992 through 2009 were identified in the bibliometric analyses. CONCLUSION: JOSPT has shown publication trends for increased percentage of experimental and clinically relevant research. However, there may be a need for increased publication of randomized controlled trials and studies focused on diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment, if goals of evidence-based practice are to be met.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(12):920-931. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.3808

KEY WORDS: citation analysis, publication trends, research

STUDY DESIGN: Secondary analysis of longitudinal population-based survey data. OBJECTIVES: To investigate factors associated with care seeking for physician-referred physical therapy (MD/PT), as compared to physician-only (MD) or chiropractic-only (DC) care for spinal pain. BACKGROUND: Although a large proportion of ambulatory physical therapy visits are related to spinal pain, physical therapists are not the most commonly seen provider. The majority of visits are to physicians, followed by chiropractors. We attempted to understand more about this disparity by examining social and demographic factors that differentiate between persons who see these providers. METHODS: Episodes of care were constructed from participants in 2 panels from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey who had spinal pain. The provider of care was identified for each episode, and logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with MD/PT use compared to MD use, and MD/PT use compared to DC use. RESULTS: The majority of patients (61%) received MD care for spinal pain, followed by those who received DC (28%) and MD/PT (11%) care. Female sex, higher levels of education, and higher income were significantly associated with MD/PT care over MD care. Increased age, female sex, lower self-health rating, and presence of at least 1 disability day were all significantly associated with MD/PT care over DC care. CONCLUSION: Sociodemographic and clinical factors are associated with those who get MD/PT care as compared to MD or DC care. We found evidence of an access disparity for physical therapy and identified population characteristics that both increase and reduce the likelihood of physical therapy service use.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(7):467-476, Epub 7 June 2011. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.3637

KEY WORDS: health services utilization, low back pain, neck pain, treatment

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1986;7(4):159-162.

Clinicians frequently measure anterior tibial displacement on patients following surgical reconstruction for a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Little is known about the reliability of measurements of anterior tibial displacement obtained on patients following an ACL reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to describe the degree of error associated with repeated measurements of anterior tibial displacement on patients with reconstructed ACLs. Random pairs of physical therapists used the KT-1000 to measure the anterior tibial displacement of 30 subjects. Each pair of examiners took measurements according to the manufacturer's instructions. Examiners took 3 sets of measurements while applying 6.8, 9.1, and 13.6 kg (15, 20, and 30 lbs) of force to the handle of the KT-1000. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 2,1) and the standard error of the difference (SED) were calculated to describe the intertester reliability of the mean of 3 measurements of anterior tibial displacement at each force level and of the individual measurements at each force level. The SED was then multiplied by 2 to provide a 95% confidence estimate of the magnitude of error present with KT-1000 measurements. The SED estimates the magnitude of change in anterior tibial displacement necessary to infer that a real change in anterior tibial displacement has occurred. Clinicians can be 95% confident that changes in anterior tibial displacement of greater than 5 mm (±2 SED) during KT-1000 tests at 6.8, 9.1, or 13.6 kg (15, 20, or 30 lbs) of force indicate that a true change in anterior tibial displacement has occurred.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1995;21(2):113-119.

Key Words: knee, reliability, anterior cruciate ligament