More than one in four physiotherapists provide treatments that have no evidence base and are expressly not recommended in guidelines, a systematic review shows. 

When Australian researchers examined studies assessing physiotherapists’ clinical notes, they found that 63% provided treatments recommended by guidelines.

However, 27% used treatments that were expressly not recommended, such as acupuncture for back pain. 

And 45% used therapies that, while not advised against, were not included in clinical guidelines because there was insufficient evidence for them.