This Masterclass is an engaging session led by Max from Physiotutors, aimed at demystifying the complexities of statistics and methodology in physiotherapy research. Instead of typical didactic content, the masterclass unfolds through the story of Alex, a curious individual from the late 1800s who seeks to understand the efficacy of muscle strengthening for neck pain relief. Through Alex’s journey, attendees learn about the importance of systematic data collection and analysis, the challenges of confounding factors, and the significance of using control groups in research.

The narrative introduces key statistical concepts such as natural history, regression to the mean, and the necessity of randomization. It further delves into statistical measures like the mean, median, mode, standard deviation, and the crucial role of the bell curve in data analysis. Alex’s story also highlights the importance of the P-value in determining statistical significance and the concept of statistical power to ensure robust study results. Additionally, the masterclass explains effect sizes and confidence intervals, providing a comprehensive understanding of data interpretation.

Participants are guided through the development of a PICO framework (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) and the execution of controlled experiments to derive meaningful, evidence-based conclusions. Ultimately, the session underscores the importance of clinical significance alongside statistical significance, culminating in the development of the Minimum Clinically Important Difference (MCID) to assess treatment efficacy. Through this masterclass, learners gain insights into evidence-based practice and the advancement of patient care in physiotherapy research.

My goal is to narrow the gap between research and clinical practice. Helping you to be more critical of your own actions and the studies you read. Not by providing answers, but by questioning everything.