[Editor's note: Both the letter to the editor by Belanger and colleagues and the response by White and colleages are commenting on the author manuscript version of the article that was published ahead of print September 15, 2014.]
We thank Belanger and colleagues1 for their interest in our article and for their comments regarding APTA's first Choosing Wisely recommendation: “Don't employ passive physical agents except when necessary to facilitate participation in an active treatment program.”2,3 Because one of the main goals of the Choosing Wisely initiative is to promote conversation,4 we appreciate the opportunity for dialogue on these recommendations as well as on the process for the development of APTA's Choosing Wisely list. We hope that by addressing some of the questions raised by Belanger and colleagues, we can help clarify the intent of APTA's first recommendation and continue to spark discussion about the best care for our patients.
First, Belanger et al question the use of the word “passive” and ask why APTA recommends questioning only passive physical agents and not all …