AAPM&R Endorsed or Affirmed Guidelines

Quality & Practice

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The Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) Committee is charged with reviewing, endorsing and advocating for key guidelines critical to the field of PM&R. The CPG Committee also assists in identifying members to serve on national panels to develop guidelines relevant to PM&R. The CPG Committee provides members with a repository of practice guidelines that may be meaningful to their practice, and helps identify gaps for future guideline development.

Practice Guidelines endorsed or affirmed by the Academy are intended to provide guidance for particular patterns of practice and not to dictate the care of a particular patient. Physicians are advised to make individual treatment decisions according to their own medical judgment in light of each patient’s individual circumstances. Guidelines are intended to promote beneficial or desirable outcomes but cannot guarantee any specific outcome. Guidelines developed or endorsed by the Academy are subject to periodic revision as warranted by the evolution of medical knowledge, technology and practice. 

  • Official AAPM&R endorsement: Fully meets AAPM&R standards defining clinical practice guidelines; AAPM&R endorses all the recommendations.
  • Affirmation of Value to Physiatrists: Does not fully meet AAPM&R standards defining clinical practice guidelines; AAPM&R cannot endorse all the recommendations; however, AAPM&R leadership feels it is of benefit to the membership.
  • No endorsement: Does not meet AAPM&R standards defining clinical practice guidelines; AAPM&R cannot endorse all the recommendations; It is not of benefit to the membership.

The CPG Committee reviews guidelines for structural integrity, not for content. Using a tool called the AGREE II, the committee evaluates the guideline being reviewed to ensure that cited evidence was researched appropriately and supports the guideline, that the group which developed the guideline was represented by all applicable professional specialties, recommendations are specific and non-ambiguous, provision is made for timely updates, among other aspects of construction.

Clinical Practice Guidelines that have been reviewed in the last five years are included in the current endorsement cycle. Clinical Practice Guidelines that were reviewed beyond the last five years are archived until the CPG Committee reviews an updated version of the Guideline.

Clinical Practice Guidelines within the current Academy endorsement cycle:

Archived Clinical Practice Guidelines:

  • Guidelines for Adult Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery (2016) - This guideline was endorsed by the AAPM&R Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) Committee, a determination with which the AAPM&R Board of Governors agreed. This guideline was developed by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.