PEDro – Physiotherapy Evidence Database
The PEDro Partnership (Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, School of Public Health at The University of Sydney) initiated and now maintains the Physiotherapy Evidence database (PEDro).
PEDro has been designed to support the practice of evidence-based physiotherapy. It gives rapid access to the best research evaluating the effects of physiotherapy interventions. Only studies using the most rigorous research methods are indexed: randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews and evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.
A unique feature of PEDro is that trials are independently assessed for quality using the PEDro scale. These quality ratings are used to quickly guide users to trials that are more likely to be valid and to contain sufficient information to guide practice.
Vision and mission
The mission of the Partnership is to maximise the effectiveness of physiotherapy services by facilitating the clinical application of the best available evidence. The PEDro Partnership believes that "effective physiotherapy is people-centred, prevention-focused, safe and technically proficient, based on the best evidence available, and managed efficiently".
How PEDro can help
PEDro has three search pages (Advanced, Simple and Consumer). They strongly encourage health professionals to use the Advanced search. Those who are new to searching may like to begin with the Simple search . Patients and other users of physiotherapy can access the Consumer Search, which has less technical language.
PEDro has 17 language sections: English, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Portuguese, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, Tamil, Arabic, Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian and Greek. Users can select their preferred language with the language selector in the header.