Basic Sciences Education

Basic sciences are the foundation for critical appraisal; a clinician needs anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and kinesiology to assess whether a new treatment model has biological plausibility. Strong basic science knowledge helps clinicians reason from mechanisms and scientific principles when evidence for a condition is incomplete or absent. Undergraduate anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and related sciences become important repeatedly throughout a physical therapy career even if their relevance is not obvious during school. Without a basic science foundation, clinicians risk becoming technicians who copy methods rather than understanding why, when, and how a treatment applies.