Sonja Mensch

117 The relationship between motor abilities and quality of life undecided). A score of 0-100% can be obtained, both on the total score and on the subscale score. A higher score indicates a better QoL. Psychometric examination of the QoL-PMD (Petry et al. 2009b; Petry et al. 2008) showed a good internal consistency for the total questionnaire (α = 0.90-0.92) as well as for the subscales (α = 0.63-0.88). In addition, correlations between the QoL-PMD and the MIPQ (Mood interest and Pleasure Questionnaire) ( r = 0.31, p < 0.001) and between the QoL-PMD and a general measure of the QoL (using a 10-point scale) ( r = 0.44, p < 0.001) demonstrated a moderate construct validity of the QoL-PMD in children with SMD. Procedure Informed consent by parents or legal representatives was obtained for all participants. Physiotherapists underwent training in the proper use of the Movakic instrument and the study procedure. The researcher and the expert group who developed the instrument trained the therapists. At baseline, therapists provided information on the child’s gender, age, cognitive developmental age, GMFCS level, diagnosis, comorbid conditions, and assistive devices used. The motor abilities were measured with Movakic, completed by the child’s physiotherapist; QoL was measured with the QoL-PMD, completed by the parents of the child. Both measures had to be completed within a period of a maximum of three months. During this time period, no changes were expected. To control for possible changes, all physiotherapists were asked to report on factors such as medication change, surgery, pain or increase of contractures that might influence motor abilities in the interim. If an event occurred in a child, this child would be excluded from further analysis. Analyses Characteristics of the study sample were described. Movakic scores were obtained in two different ways: 1) Per child the average of all completed situations of Movakic was calculated in a total Movakic score. 2) The scores of the chosen situations of Movakic were averaged for the three body positions ‘lying’ (situation 1-6), ‘sitting’ (situation 7-10) and ‘standing’ (situation 11-12) and for each child the average score per body position was calculated. Normality of theMovakic andQoL-PMDdatawas checked using the Kolmogorov- Smirnov and was found sufficient. Using Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r), Movakic sub-scores in the different body positions (lying, sitting and standing) were correlated with both QoL sub-scores on dimensions and total QoL score. The same analysis was used to correlate the Movakic total score with both QoL sub-scores and total QoL score. The magnitude of correlation coefficients was interpreted using guidelines by Cohen (1992) (Cohen. 1992) (.10-.29=small, .30-.49=medium, >.50=large). A positive correlation