Objectives The amount and diversity of measurement instruments in the Dutch physiotherapy guidelines is too extensive: in total 111 instruments. Many of these instruments are too long and concern identical domains and concepts. The aim of this bottom-up project is to develop a framework and criteria that will guide the structure, selection and reduction of instruments for application in daily practice.

Methods The project consist of the next steps: 1. Defining the aim of the framework and review the (inter)national literature; 2. Developing a concept framework; 3. An inventory of domains and overlap of instruments in the Dutch guidelines; 4. An inventory made by professionals of domains and concepts relevant for musculoskeletal functioning in physiotherapy and instruments used; 5. Consensus meetings with representatives of professionals and guideline developers; 6. Processing results and preparation of field tests: sorting, selection and reduction of instruments for domains and concepts by using the framework and criteria for feasibility and use in daily practice; 7. Implementation- and dissemination planning.

Results A Conceptual framework based on the structure of clinical reasoning and International Classification of Functioning. An inventory of domains that are relevant for physiotherapy and feasibility criteria for the selection of instruments. A guide for the selection and reduction of recommended instruments in guidelines and use in daily practice.

Conclusions The framework gives professionals and guideline developers the same structure and a clearer understanding about the selection of instruments for daily practice. It helps professionals to learn when to use which instrument for what patient.