Reliability and Responsiveness of the Observable Movement Quality Scale for Children with Mild to Moderate Motor Impairments

Abstract

Aim

The Observable Movement Quality (OMQ) scale measures generic movement quality and is used alongside standardized age-adequate motor performance tests. The scale consists of 15 items, each focusing on a different aspect; together, the entire construct of movement quality is assessed. This study aimed to determine interrater and intrarater reliability, and responsiveness of the OMQ scale.

Methods

A prospective intervention study with pre-post design in pediatric physical therapy practices. For interrater reliability, 3 physical therapists observed video-recorded motor assessments of 30 children with mild to moderate motor impairments —aged 4 to 12 years—using the OMQ scale. One therapist scored baseline assessment a second time for intrarater reliability, and to calculate smallest detectable change (SDC). Responsiveness (n = 28) was tested by comparing outcomes before and after intervention.

Results

Interrater reliability was moderate to good (ICC_2,1: 0.79); intrarater reliability was high (ICC_2,1: 0.97). Responsiveness results revealed an SDC of 2.4 and a minimal important change of 2.5; indicating sufficient validity in differentiating groups of children showing improved versus unchanged movement quality.

Conclusion

The OMQ scale is reliable and responsive to change when used to assess movement quality in clinical practice for children with mild to moderate motor impairments, aged 4–12 year.

Keywords:

• Motor development
• motor control and motor learning
• psychometric testing

Acknowledgements

We would like to sincerely thank all the children, their parents and the pediatric physical therapists for participating in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics

The regional medical ethical committee of the Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc) agreed that the study conforms to the Declaration of Helsinki and that approval was not required (registration number 2016-2832).

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author (LD) upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The Dutch Research Council Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappleijk Onderzoek (NWO) supported Lieke Dekkers: grant 023.004.037. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Notes on contributors

Lieke M. A. Dekkers

Lieke M. A. Dekkers is a pediatric physical therapist, teacher and researcher working at the department of Allied Health studies, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, and at the Department of Rehabilitation, Pediatric Physical Therapy, Institute for Health Sciences, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Bert J. M. de Swart

Bert J. M. de Swart (PhD) is a professor at the Department of Allied Health studies, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, and working at the Department of Rehabilitation, Pediatric Physical Therapy, Institute for Health Sciences, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Marianne Jonker

Marianne Jonker (PhD) is an assistant professor and biostatistician working at the Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Pauline van Erp

Pauline van Erp is a pediatric physical therapist working at Center for pediatric physical therapy Daanen Derksen, Arnhem, The Netherlands.

Anneke Wisman

Anneke Wisman is a pediatric physical therapist working at Center for physical therapy ViaFysio, Zevenaar, The Netherlands.

Philip J. van der Wees

Philip J. van der Wees (PT, PhD) is a professor at the Department of Rehabilitation, Pediatric Physical Therapy, Institute for Health Sciences, Amalia children's Hospital, and at the Scientific Institute for Quality of Health Care, both at Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Maria W. G. Nijhuis van der Sanden

Maria W. G. Nijhuis van der Sanden (PPT, PhD) is a professor emerita at the Department of Rehabilitation, Pediatric Physical Therapy, Institute for Health Sciences, Amalia Children's Hospital, and the Scientific Institute for Quality of Health Care, both at Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Anjo J. W. M. Janssen

Anjo J. W. M. Janssen (PhD) is a pediatric physical therapist and researcher, working the Department of Rehabilitation, Pediatric Physical Therapy, Institute for Health Sciences, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.