Thrust Joint Manipulation Curricula in First-Professional Physical Therapy Education: 2012 Update

Study Design Descriptive online observational survey. Objectives To identify the extent of thrust joint manipulation (TJM) integration into first-professional physical therapy program curricula. Background The most recent survey of TJM curricula was published in 2004, with a wide variation in faculty responses noted. Since that time, faculty resources have been developed and TJM language in “A Normative Model of Physical Therapist Professional Education” from the American Physical Therapy Association has been updated, leaving the current status of TJM education in curricula unknown. Methods Faculty from 205 accredited physical therapy programs were invited to participate in an anonymous 35-item electronic survey during the summer of 2012. Results Seventy-two percent of programs responded to the survey, with 99% of programs teaching TJM and 97% of faculty believing TJM to be an entry-level skill. Cervical spine TJM is still being taught at a lower rate than techniques for other body regions. Faculty deemed...