ICON PART-T 2019–International Scientific Tendinopathy Symposium Consensus: recommended standards for reporting participant characteristics in tendinopathy research (PART-T)

Abstract

We aimed to establish consensus for reporting recommendations relating to participant characteristics in tendon research. A scoping literature review of tendinopathy studies (Achilles, patellar, hamstring, gluteal and elbow) was followed by an online survey and face-to-face consensus meeting with expert healthcare professionals (HCPs) at the International Scientific Tendon Symposium, Groningen 2018. We reviewed 263 papers to form statements for consensus and invited 30 HCPs from different disciplines and geographical locations; 28 completed the survey and 15 attended the meeting. There was consensus that the following data should be reported for cases and controls: sex, age, standing height, body mass, history of tendinopathy, whether imaging was used to confirm pathology, loading tests, pain location, symptom duration and severity, level of disability, comorbidities, physical activity level, recruitment source and strategies, and medication use history. Standardised reporting of participant characteristics aims to benefit patients and clinicians by guiding researchers in the conduct of their studies. We provide free resources to facilitate researchers adopting our recommendations.

Effectiveness of isometric exercise in the management of tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials

“…47 A further ICON consensus statement highlighted that patient characteristics relating to general health may be a major confounder to treatment outcomes in tendinopathy. 48 Patients with chronic tendinopathy, especially older and more sedentary individuals, often have associated comorbidities, for example, diabetes, 49 high cholesterol 50 and high body mass index. 51 These characteristics are not routinely measured in tendinopathy studies, but it is recommended that they are reported in future clinical trials.…”

ICON 2019—International Scientific Tendinopathy Symposium Consensus: There are nine core health-related domains for tendinopathy (CORE DOMAINS): Delphi study of healthcare professionals and patients

“…These candidate domains were then considered for their importance as core health-related domains in tendinopathy, first by online survey (stage 2, August 2018) and then at an in-person meeting at the 2018 International Scientific Tendinopathy Symposium (ISTS, Groningen, the Netherlands) (stage 3, September 2018). The consensus process described here was one of three separate projects discussed at the ISTS consensus meeting; the other two dealt with terminology10 and reporting of participant characteristics 11…”

Intramuscular stimulation vs sham needling for the treatment of chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy: A randomized controlled clinical trial

“…The outcome measures were designed and registered prior to the publication of a recent consensus on outcome measures [36]. There were no changes to outcome measures after registration of the protocol at ISCRTN, although we did alter the ultrasound analysis from what was described in our ethics protocol by focusing on tendon thickness rather than echo texture.…”