PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Djamilla K.D. van der Stap
AU  - Lisa G. Rider
AU  - Helene Alexanderson
AU  - Adam M. Huber
AU  - Bruno Gualano
AU  - Patrick Gordon
AU  - Janjaap van der Net
AU  - Pernille Mathiesen
AU  - Liam G. Johnson
AU  - Floranne C. Ernste
AU  - Brian M. Feldman
AU  - Kristin M. Houghton
AU  - Davinder Singh-Grewal
AU  - Abraham Garcia Kutzbach
AU  - Li Alemo Munters
AU  - Tim Takken
AU  - on behalf of the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies Group
TI  - Proposal for a Candidate Core Set of Fitness and Strength Tests for Patients with Childhood or Adult Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies
AID  - 10.3899/jrheum.150270
DP  - 2016 Jan 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - 169--176
VI  - 43
IP  - 1
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/43/1/169.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/43/1/169.full
SO  - J Rheumatol2016 Jan 01; 43
AB  - Objective. Currently there are no evidence-based recommendations regarding fitness and strength tests for patients with childhood or adult idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). This hinders clinicians and researchers in choosing the appropriate fitness- or muscle strength-related outcome measures for these patients. Through a Delphi survey, we aimed to identify a candidate core set of fitness and strength tests for children and adults with IIM.Methods. Fifteen experts participated in a Delphi survey that consisted of 5 stages to achieve a consensus. Using an extensive search of published literature and through the work of experts, a candidate core set based on expert opinion and clinimetrics properties was developed. Members of the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies Group were invited to review this candidate core set during the final stage, which led to a final candidate core set.Results. A core set of fitness- and strength-related outcome measures was identified for children and adults with IIM. For both children and adults, different tests were identified and selected for maximal aerobic fitness, submaximal aerobic fitness, anaerobic fitness, muscle strength tests, and muscle function tests.Conclusion. The core set of fitness- and strength-related outcome measures provided by this expert consensus process will assist practitioners and researchers in deciding which tests to use in patients with IIM. This will improve the uniformity of fitness and strength tests across studies, thereby facilitating the comparison of study results and therapeutic exercise program outcomes among patients with IIM.