209: How To Close the Gap Between Research And Practice With Dr. Carolee Winstein, PhD, PT, FAPTA
Apr 15, 2024
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Dr. Carolee Winstein discusses bridging research and clinical practice in neurorehabilitation. She emphasizes the importance of understanding motor control and neuroplasticity, integrating neuroscience into physical therapy, and collaboration between researchers and clinicians for therapy advancement.
Bridging the gap between research and clinical practice is essential for improving patient outcomes.
Incorporating evidence-based practices and research findings into clinical protocols enhances treatment effectiveness.
Collaboration between researchers and clinicians is crucial for developing innovative and evidence-based treatment approaches.
Deep dives
Dr. Caroli Wienstein's Journey to Integrating Neuroscience in Physical Therapy
Dr. Caroli Wienstein, a prominent figure in the field of physical therapy, shares her journey of transitioning from clinical practice to academia, driven by a profound interest in neuroplasticity and neuroscience. Her extensive career began with a focus on neurorehabilitation, with early experiences at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center shaping her passion for neuro PT and the interdisciplinary collaboration fostered. Her pursuit of a deeper understanding led her to pursue a PhD, bridging the gap between clinical practice and scientific research.
Challenges and Growth in Early Clinical Practice
Dr. Wienstein reflects on her early years post-PT school, where she immersed herself in neurotherapeutic practices at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Working primarily with neurological conditions, she recognized the need for further scientific underpinnings in treatment approaches. Her pivotal experiences at Rancho fueled her curiosity about patient outcomes and the variability in recovery, prompting her to pursue advanced scientific training to enhance her clinical expertise and understanding.
Integrating Research and Clinical Practice
Dr. Wienstein emphasizes the importance of synthesizing research findings into clinical practice, highlighting the challenges clinicians face in applying research outcomes to diverse patient populations with comorbidities. She advocates for training clinicians to feel empowered in conducting research, implementing evidence-based practices, and engaging with research protocols. By fostering collaborations between researchers and clinicians, she envisions a future where evidence-based interventions are seamlessly integrated into clinical settings.
Empowering Clinicians Through Structured Protocols and Data Collection
Addressing the need for structured protocols in clinical practice, Dr. Wienstein underscores the value of research-backed protocols to guide therapeutic interventions. She emphasizes the significance of standardized data collection, ensuring the quality and reliability of clinical research outcomes. By empowering clinicians with structured approaches and encouraging data-driven practices, she envisions a more cohesive integration of research principles into everyday patient care.
Future Directions: Collaboration, Training, and Innovation
Looking ahead, Dr. Wienstein envisions a future marked by increased collaboration between researchers and clinicians, culminating in innovative and evidence-based treatment approaches. She emphasizes the need for ongoing training initiatives to equip clinicians with research skills and a deeper understanding of neuroscience principles. Through fostering a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and structured protocols, she envisions a healthcare landscape where research and clinical practice intersect seamlessly for optimal patient outcomes.
Have you ever felt like there was a disconnect between what the researchers are thinking and what you, as a clinician, are thinking? You’re not the only one! The desire to bridge the gap between research and what really goes on in the clinic has been a topic of discussion for decades. We interviewed Dr. Carolee Winstein, PhD, PT, FAPTA about this very topic and what the possible solutions may be. Dr. Winstein, a pivotal figure in redirecting professional focus towards motor control, motor learning and neuroplasticity, shares her transformational journey. When working with individuals with neurologic conditions in the 1990s (“before neuro rehab was a thing,” as she laughs) she wondered, why do some people get better and some don’t? Her intellectual curiosity propelled her into the sphere of motor learning and control under the tutelage of the esteemed Richard (Dick) Schmidt, PhD, an intellectual leader in motor learning and control and founder and founding editor of the Journal of Motor Behavior.
Accumulating over 34,000 citations, Dr. Winstein stands as a luminary in the realm of neuro rehabilitation, boasting an unparalleled expertise in motivation, motor control, and neuroplasticity. She shares why the practice of neuro rehabilitation must be accompanied by an understanding of the behavioral literature. She provides advice and guidance for the clinician struggling to incorporate the research into practice, a warning about Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), and what types of studies you should actually pay attention to in order to implement emerging evidence. Have you ever felt like your patient population doesn’t really match those studied in the research? She addresses that too and provides advice and encouragement about how to shift this disconnect.
Articles mentioned in the interview can be found and downloaded here:
