Between-session reliability of the star excursion balance test

Munro, AG; Herrington, LC

Abstract

Objective: To assess the learning effect, testeretest reliability and measurement error associated with the
SEBT.
Design: Repeated-measures study.
Setting: Controlled university laboratory environment.
Participants: Twenty-two healthy recreational athletes (11 male age 22.3 +/- 3.7 years, 11 female age
22.8 +/- 3.1 years).
Main Outcome Measures: Repeated-measures ANOVA assessed learning affects. Intraclass correlations
coefficients, standard error of measurement and smallest detectable difference values were calculated to
assess reliability and measurement error.
Results: Results showed that excursion distances stabilised after four trials, therefore trials five to seven
were analysed for reliability. Testeretest reliability for all reach directions was high, with intraclass
correlation coefficients ranging from 0.84 to 0.92. 95% confidence intervals, standard error of
measurement and smallest detectable difference ranged from 77.84 to 94.00, 2.21e2.94% and 6.13e8.15%,
respectively.
Conclusion: These statistics will allow clinicians to evaluate whether changes in SEBT scores are due to
change in an individual’s performance or random error. The findings of this study show that the SEBT is
a reliable measure of lower limb function in healthy recreational athletes. Changes in normalised scores
of at least 6e8% are needed to feel confident that a real change in SEBT performance has occurred.

Citation

Munro, A., & Herrington, L. (2010). Between-session reliability of the star excursion balance test. Physical Therapy in Sport, 11(4), 128-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2010.07.002

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2010
• Deposit Date: Dec 23, 2010
• Journal: Physical Therapy in Sport
• Print ISSN: 1466-853X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 128-132
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2010.07.002
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2010.07.002