What is the correct sequence of the scientific method in physical therapy practice?

• A. Subjective, Hypotheses, Objective, Diagnosis, Intervention
• B. Subjective, Objective, Hypotheses, Diagnosis, Intervention
• C. Diagnosis, Subjective, Objective, Hypotheses, Intervention
• D. Subjective --> Hypotheses --> Objective --> Diagnosis --> Intervention

Answer: (D)

In physical therapy practice, reasoning starts with what the patient reports and feels, because that subjective information shapes your initial understanding of the problem. From this, you form provisional explanations or hypotheses about possible causes, impairments, or contributing factors. These hypotheses guide what you test next, so you gather objective data—tests, measures, movement analysis, and special exams—to see which explanations hold up. The results of that objective testing help you refine or confirm the clinical impression or diagnosis. With the diagnosis in hand, you plan and implement the intervention tailored to the identified condition, goals, and prognosis.

This order makes sense because you don’t know what’s wrong until you hear the patient's story, and the story helps you decide what to test. Objective data then either supports or refines your thinking, leading to a clear diagnosis and a targeted treatment plan.