Objective: Prior research has focused on comparing the effects of manual therapy techniques used in physical therapy in different conditions to determine which technique is more effective and less invasive for the patient. However, no focus has been placed on identifying and evaluating the changes in manual therapy techniques. This study aims to evaluate the changes in manual therapy techniques from the perspective of current and retired physical therapists who are or were licensed in Washington state. Methods: Eighteen participants completed a modified Physical Therapy Profile Questionnaire (PTPQ) to explore their experience with manual therapy techniques and whether they implemented changes in their practice of these techniques. Results: The results suggest that changes in manual therapy techniques occur as physical therapists gain and develop more experience working with many clients and treating different conditions. Joint mobilization, taping, and muscle energy techniques were the most used and recommended manual therapy techniques by physical therapists in this sample. There was no significant correlation between the years of practice and the number of manual therapy techniques selected by participants (r = -0.044, p = 0.887). Conclusions: This study suggests that changes and adjustments in manual therapy techniques have occurred throughout time as physical therapists gain practice in the field and can identify what manual technique will produce a better patient outcome in a specific patient.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This study did not receive any funding.

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

Yes

The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

IRB of Washington State University gave ethical approval for this work.

I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.

Yes

I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).

Yes

I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable.

Yes

All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors.