Responsible physiotherapists? A critical perspective

German physiotherapy is at a critical turning point. The process of becoming a profession is accompanied by expectations as well as by responsibility. This article reports on one of four research cycles intended to examine which practice models and which clinical reasoning processes are used by physiotherapists currently working in clinics. The authors illuminate clinically applied practice models from a socially critical viewpoint. They present a critical/emancipated alternative which can contribute to a more mature and confident practice. This article draws conclusions for the study of practice models and higher education which would encourage the development of more accountable physiotherapists.