Evidence-based practice (EBP) can be defined using different words and descriptions, but all definitions include these 3 basic parts: best available evidence, the professional's clinical expertise, and the patient's circumstances and values.
The EBP cycle starts with a patient condition, and then moves through 5 steps to aid in the decision making process to provide the best medical care for the patient.
An important part of EBP deals with the level of evidence. The types of study methods at the top of the pyramid use a stronger methodology and as a result are considered to have a higher level of evidence than those studies listed in the lower levels. A pyramid is used to demonstrate the quantity of each type of methodology; fewer studies using methodologies at the top and more studies (like animal research) at the bottom.
For the research you are doing in Althletic Training, always strive to find articles from the RCT section and above.