Call for Abstracts
Abstract submissions have closed
Deadline for ALL abstract submissions: June 1, 2026 (PST: 11:59 pm)
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The Annual Conference of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists will be held in Buffalo, New York, on November 11-15, 2026.
CONTENT: The Academy solicited all avenues of research including abstracts of Case Reports (including Case Series) and Research Reports (including original quantitative or qualitative studies, Systematic Reviews, and Descriptive or Scoping Reviews). The Academy is particularly interested in research evaluating intervention strategies using randomized controlled trials. Submission of abstracts for innovative OMPT education, assessment and/or management techniques for musculoskeletal conditions, and health services topics related to OMPT are strongly encouraged. OMPT topics related to spinal and/or peripheral joint thrust and/or non-thrust manipulation, dry needling, soft tissue techniques, motor control or pain science interventions will be prioritized.
Abstracts of COMPLETED projects ONLY will be reviewed and scored by the Research Committee. Preliminary data from larger scale projects will be accepted if the abstract fully describes the data analysis and results. Abstracts are intended to represent scientific research or non-commercial content related to clinical practice. Advertisements are not acceptable.
Abstract Examples
| CASE REPORT |
RESEARCH REPORT |
| Title |
Title |
| Background & Purpose |
Background & Purpose |
| Case Description |
Methods |
| Outcomes |
Results |
| Discussion / Conclusion |
Discussion / Conclusion |
NOTE: All 5x5 presentations will be limited to five (5) slides AND five (5) minutes.
Research study presentation formats at the conference include:
1) Case Report / Case Series - presentation of case report / series (eg single-subject design, descriptive report) including manual therapy in their diagnosis / management, characterized by their scarcity. Unique and original presentations will be prioritized.
2) Research Report: original quantitative / qualitative research / systematic reviews / descriptive or scoping reviews. Abstract for research studies, included pilot studies, must include final data analysis for the project being presented (even if a pilot study).
PUBLICATION: The accepted abstracts may be published in a supplemental format with The Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, which has readership in over 40 Countries.
Abstract submission guidelines:
Authors are required to submit two versions of their abstract:
- A 400 word version for conference review
- A 200 word version for potential publication
The 400 word abstract will be used for the peer review process. Abstracts exceeding 400 words or incomplete submissions will not be reviewed and will be rejected.
While references are not required within the abstract itself, all accepted presentations are expected to be grounded in current evidence, with appropriate references included in the final presentation materials. Poster presentations must include a minimum of five references displayed on the poster.
Abstracts accepted for the conference may be considered for publication in JMMT. For publication purposes, the final abstract must not exceed 200 words.
Abstract mentoring: The author has the option to self-select to receive feedback PRIOR to abstract grading. The AAOMPT Research Committee will review abstracts and submit feedback ONE time to the author. The author will have one week to address the concerns and resubmit.
Abstract grading / selection: The Research Committee will grade the abstracts for rubric after the June 1st deadline. Email decisions of acceptance and format of presentation have been communicated.
AUTHORS / FEES: There is a fee of $45.00 associated with submitting each abstract. At least one author must be a licensed physical therapist. All presenters of poster/platform presentations are required to attend the virtual presentation if they are licensed physical therapists, physical therapy students in an accredited doctor of physical therapy program, medical doctors (or in training in accredited medical school) or doctor of osteopathy (or in training in accredited osteopathy school). Other professionals presenting poster/platform at the virtual presentation are not allowed to attend the presentation unless under specific requests of a licensed physical therapist to the AAOMPT Executive Board.
Fellows-in-Training: You will be required to provide the name of your affiliated Fellowship Program and list a minimum of one mentor's name. Also, you are required to add your mentor(s) to the author list of your abstract submission.
PRESENTATIONS: The presentations of the accepted research will be either a platform or poster sessions. The platform sessions are named: “Research Platform 5x5s”. This means presenters will have 5 minutes and 5 slides to present this topic.
PRESENTATION AWARDS: The platform presentation with the highest quality will be awarded the Dick Ehrard Platform Presentation Award. The poster presentation with the highest quality will be awarded the 1st Place Poster Award. Both of these will be formally recognized at the subsequent AAOMPT conference.
Please direct any questions to Chris Allen or Holly Jonely, Co-Chairs of the Research Committee, at [email protected] or [email protected].