Examination of the Reliability and Responsiveness of a Japanese Version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire for Children: Toward Application in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder.

Abstract

Objective: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by impaired motor coordination despite the absence of an underlying neurological condition affecting movement (e.g., cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and degenerative disorder). Motor imagery training (MIT) has recently gained attention as a rehabilitation approach for children with DCD. Effective implementation of MIT requires accurate assessment of motor imagery (MI) abilities; however, no comprehensive evaluation tool for children exists in Japan. This study is aimed at developing a Japanese version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire for Children (MIQ-C) and examining its reliability and responsiveness.

Methods: Thirty-three children (18 males and 15 females; mean age 10 ± 0.9 years) participated. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Test-retest and interrater reliability were examined using intraclass correlation coefficients. Responsiveness was evaluated by examining changes in MIQ-C scores before and after training tasks.

Results: The Japanese version of the MIQ-C demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.82). Test-retest and interrater reliability showed moderate to strong agreement. No significant changes were observed in response to specific tasks, supporting appropriate responsiveness.

Conclusions: The Japanese version of the MIQ-C is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing MI abilities in Japanese children, providing a useful tool to support the implementation of MIT in clinical and educational settings.