Section business: President's message

Neurology Report, Mar 2003 by Riolo, Lisa

Translating research into practice has always been among the Neurology Section's primary goals. Section leaders seem to have always recognized the benefit of assisting members as they interpret results from basic and applied research studies and apply the results to their role as clinicians. It seems that our Section was ahead of the more recent focus on evidence-based practice. Our Section's sophistication in this area helps maintain us as a leader of other APTA endeavors.

The most immediate sources members have to help translate research into practice are Neurology Report and Section programming at CSM although our Special Interest Group web pages and newsletters also help the Section to achieve our goal. I am pleased to hear members praise Neurology Report as a journal that actually provides information that they can immediately apply to the clinic.These accolades have only increased in frequency as the journal has evolved to publishing more research reports than in the past. Articles that report empirical evidence for our tests and interventions as well as the theoretical background for our practice are important as our practice matures. Our members have come to rely on Neurology Report as a source for this information.These benefits will become realized even more as the journal continues to grow.

Neurology Section programming at CSM always has included national and international speakers who are researchers. Programs often rely on a panel of experts representing basic and clinical research to help participants bridge the gap between basic research and clinical applications. Most recently, CSM '03 in Tampa featured preconference courses related to stroke and spinal cord injury with explicit goals for applying research to clinical problems. Decisions neurological physical therapists make for prognosis, examination, and effective interventions were all supported by researchers describing their own work and applying their results to clinical practice.The effect of rehabilitation on neuroplasticity and recovery of function was another educational session during CSM that paired a basic scientist with a clinical scientist to achieve the goal of translating research into practice. Our members can expect to continue to see high quality programming that will help them to be more informed clinicians.

I am proud of the Neurology Section's commitment to translating research into practice. I think our efforts to this end strengthen our Section as well as our members. This translates to better care for patients who have functional limitations due to neurological deficits and better credibility of our profession. I hope the members share in my pride and my recognition of the importance of this issue. Please let me know how else we can help you to become the best evidence-based practitioner you can be.

Lisa Riolo, PhD, PT, NCS

President