Analysis of the numbers of clinical trials on physical therapy in Japan: comparison with those in the North American register from 2010 to 2019.
Shunta Umeki, Shinsuke Imaoka, Kazuhiro Harada and 1 others
PMID 34219957WHAT IT FOUND
Physical therapy trials make up 1.3% of all registered trials in North America but only 0.3% in Japan.
While North American numbers rose steadily, Japan's share plateaued after 2016 despite an aging population. This highlights a gap in research capacity rather than clinical practice.
Key findings
01Clinical trials related to physical therapy account for 1.3% of all registered trials in North America compared to 0.3% in Japan.
02The proportion of physical therapy trials in Japan increased from 0.05% to 0.5% but has not risen since 2016, unlike the steady yearly increase seen in North America.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study only counted the number of registered trials and did not assess the quality, size, or outcomes of those trials. It did not break down physical therapy trials by specific conditions or sub-disciplines. Some clinical trials are published without registration, so the data may underestimate actual research activity. The search relied on the term "Physical therapy," which may have missed trials using different terminology.
Declared interests
There are no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the low proportion of physical therapy trials in Japan as a lack of clinical skill or patient care. This study measures research registration volume, which is influenced by funding and academic requirements, not the quality of treatment delivered to patients.