The Academy’s clinical practice guideline efforts are distinct from AAPM&R-developed clinical guidance and focuses on engagement with, as well as review and endorsement of external clinical practice guidelines developed by other professional organizations and agencies.
This webpage serves as the central overview of AAPM&R’s clinical practice guideline activities, including participation in external guideline development, review and endorsement of completed guidelines and policies governing the endorsement process.
Purpose and Scope
Clinical practice guidelines are systematically developed statements intended to assist clinicians and patients in making informed decisions about appropriate care under specific clinical circumstances. AAPM&R’s involvement in clinical practice guidelines is designed to:
• Ensure rehabilitation perspectives are represented in national and multidisciplinary guideline efforts
• Promote methodologically rigorous, evidence-based recommendations relevant to PM&R practice
• Support consistency, quality, and transparency in clinical decision-making
• Help members identify trustworthy external guidelines applicable to rehabilitation care
AAPM&R clinical practice guideline activities are intended to inform—not replace—clinical judgment. All care decisions should incorporate individual patient goals, preferences, comorbidities and available resources.
AAPM&R Role in External Clinical Practice Guidelines
AAPM&R does not develop clinical practice guidelines directly. Instead, the Academy appoints physiatrist liaisons to serve on technical expert panels, guideline development workgroups, or peer review committees convened by other professional societies, federal agencies and national organizations.
Through these liaison roles, AAPM&R:
• Ensures PM&R perspectives are represented during guideline development
• Contributes rehabilitation-focused expertise to multidisciplinary panels
• Supports alignment of guideline recommendations with functional outcomes, recovery, and participation
To learn more about the Academy Liaisons, please visit the Academy Liaison Program webpage. Following publication of guidelines, completed guidelines may be reviewed by AAPM&R for possible endorsement or affirmation of value to physiatrists.
AAPM&R-Endorsed and Affirmed Guidelines
AAPM&R reviews external clinical practice guidelines to determine whether they should be endorsed or affirmed as valuable to physiatrists. Review is conducted by the AAPM&R Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) Committee using standardized evaluation criteria.
Clinical Practice Guidelines Review and Endorsement Process
AAPM&R’s Guideline Endorsement Policy defines the criteria and process for evaluating external clinical practice guidelines and supports consistency, transparency and scientific integrity in endorsement decisions.
Key elements of the review process include:
• Assessment of guideline development methodology using the AGREE II instrument
• Evaluation of evidence review quality and strength of recommendations
• Review of panel composition, transparency, and conflict-of-interest management
• Consideration of clinical relevance to PM&R practice and rehabilitation care
• Time-limited endorsement cycles with periodic reassessment
The AAPM&R Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee reviews guidelines for structural and methodological quality and does not rewrite guideline content.
To review the full Guideline Endorsement Policy, click here.
How to Use AAPM&R Clinical Practice Guidelines
AAPM&R-endorsed and affirmed clinical practice guidelines are intended to support shared decision-making, inform education and quality improvement initiatives and complement—rather than constrain—professional judgment.
Clinicians should apply guideline recommendations in the context of individual patient needs, values, practice setting and emerging evidence.