Good physiotherapy rests on good evidence. The NCAHP curriculum expects every graduate to integrate research evidence into clinical decisions, and to be ready to take part in, or start, research into practice.
Research in the BPT curriculum
Year 3: Research Methodology, Biostatistics & Evidence-Based Practice
Why research matters, the research process and designs, sampling, data collection, interpreting statistical tests, literature searching and critical appraisal. Each student prepares a sample research proposal.
Year 4: Project Work Orientation
Students choose a topic and a faculty guide and prepare for the project they will complete during internship.
Internship: supervised project
A case study, a recent technique or a literature review, completed under a physiotherapy faculty member. It builds a research mindset and prepares students for higher studies. Students defend their project in a viva.
Weekly clinical discussions
Interns present case reports at weekly clinical meetings moderated by faculty, applying evidence to real patients.
Research competencies we build
- Review the literature: define search terms, find relevant studies and identify research gaps
- Evaluate research findings against current departmental practice and suggest how to implement them
- Formulate a research question and follow the steps of planning and conducting a study systematically
- Use outcome measures and documentation (SOAP format) that support audit and research
- Apply ethical principles, including informed consent and confidentiality, to research with people
Research & ethics committees
Institutional Research Committee
- Reviews student and faculty research proposals for scientific merit and feasibility
- Allocates guides and monitors project progress
- Organises research-methodology workshops and journal clubs
- Encourages presentations and publications
Institutional Ethics Committee
- Reviews every study involving human participants before it begins
- Follows the ICMR National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants
- Protects participants' safety, dignity, consent and privacy
- Monitors approved studies and handles reports of concern
Areas of interest
Student projects can draw on every department's work. Topics relevant to our region include:
- Low back pain in agricultural workers
- Work-related posture problems
- Stroke rehabilitation in rural settings
- Fall prevention in older adults
- Developmental screening of children
- Antenatal & postnatal exercise
- Diabetes & exercise prescription
- Sports injury prevention
- Low-cost assistive devices
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Yoga in rehabilitation
- Community-based rehabilitation
Faculty research
NCAHP norms make research part of every teaching career: publications are required for appointment and promotion to Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor, and a PhD in a physiotherapy discipline is required for the senior cadres. RCP supports faculty to attend conferences and faculty development programmes, and to publish their work.
Curious minds welcome
Explore the BPT curriculum and see where research fits in.