We appreciate the thoughtful commentary by Winstein1 on our article,2 which describes the revised Research Agenda for physical therapy. We would like to respond to each of the points delineated in Winstein's commentary.
Winstein comments on the lack of a bold vision of research for the profession and the fact that there is no statement about the purpose for having a research agenda for the profession. We believe that the purpose, as articulated in the article, was sufficient. This article, which includes the revised Research Agenda, deals solely with the creation of an agenda. Much of what was stated in the comments about lack of a bold vision is quite legitimate. The primary purpose of the agenda was to create a document detailing the breadth of rehabilitation research. Furthermore, Winstein's commentary is correct, as a portion of the purpose of the revised agenda is somewhat reactionary. We attempted to deflate some of the controversy surrounding the original agenda. We did not want to create an environment that would devalue any of the questions that currently are being asked by physical therapist researchers or clinicians.
The use …