title: Perspective: impact of the IIISTEP conference on clinical practice.
abstract: In July 2005, physical therapy clinicians, educators, and researchers gathered for the IIISTEP (Symposium on Translating Evidence to Practice) conference. The purpose of IIISTEP was to link research and clinical practice through the exchange of ideas and research findings between scientists and clinicians. This paper represents the personal perspective of a group of colleagues who attended IIISTEP as clinicians/educator teams. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how information from IIISTEP has challenged our existing concepts regarding physical therapy practice and begun to alter our clinical practice. Some key concepts presented by scientists and clinicians at IIISTEP are reviewed including current perspectives on neuroplasticity and frameworks for considering function, health, and the disablement process. Considerations for clinical application are outlined. Patient cases are used to illustrate how integration of this information has altered our approach to patient management.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA. jcallahan1@partners.org
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Callahan
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parlman
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beninato
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Townsend
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D020127:Recovery of Function