The July issue of Journal of Physiotherapy adds a new article type to its appraisal sections. 

The new Practical Guides are intended to provide clinical physiotherapists with all the information they need to apply a complex intervention safely, effectively and with confidence. 

These short, structured papers are designed to be immediately useful in clinical practice, offering physiotherapists all the essential information needed to implement a specific intervention correctly. 

Structure of a Practical Guide 

The new Practical Guides follow a consistent format that includes guidance on patient selection, safety, assessment before and after intervention, patient/caregiver education and a fully detailed treatment program. 

The treatment protocol covers everything from session frequency and intensity to supervision requirements, progression algorithms and maintenance strategies. 

Where available, recommendations are supported by research evidence—particularly high-quality systematic reviews—but clinical experience also plays an important role in shaping the advice provided. 

The first Practical Guide 

The first Practical Guide, to be published in the July issue, focuses on the active cycle of breathing techniques and is led by Professor Alice Jones and her team. 

The active cycle of breathing techniques is commonly used in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy to assist airway clearance but variations in delivery across settings can affect both efficacy and safety. 

This inaugural guide aims to standardise best practice by providing physiotherapists with clear, evidence-informed recommendations for delivering the active cycle of breathing techniques across a range of clinical contexts. 

With this new paper type, the Journal of Physiotherapy hopes to bridge the gap between research and real-world practice— empowering clinicians to implement proven interventions with the rigour and confidence they deserve. 

The July issue also contains an editorial on physiotherapists’ involvement in suicide prevention, an article collection on perioperative physiotherapy, original research into topics such as remote physiotherapy for musculoskeletal conditions and neurological claudication, and other appraisal items on hip osteoarthritis and chronic spine pain.