Intra-Rater Reliability of Star Excursion Balance Test

Background: Balance is crucial for maintaining the center of gravity over the base of support, relying on three main subsystems: somatosensory, vestibular, and visual, managed by the central nervous system. The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), developed by Gray, assesses dynamic balance by standing on one leg and reaching with the other in various directions. It is recommended for screening sports participation and post-rehabilitation, with studies indicating improved performance through training. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the intra-rater reliability of the SEBT in young, healthy adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 47 young, healthy adults, selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Each participant completed the SEBT after providing written consent. The mean of six attempts was recorded for each direction. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0, with significance set at p < 0.05. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to determine reliability. Results: The ICC for the dominant limb in all directions ranged from 0.75 to 0.9, indicating good agreement. Specifically, the ICC values were 0.81 for anteromedial reach, 0.86 for medial reach, 0.79 for posteromedial reach, 0.91 for posterior reach, 0.91 for posterolateral reach, 0.77 for lateral reach, 0.88 for anterolateral reach, and 0.75 for anterior reach (p = 0.00 for all). For the non-dominant limb, ICC values ranged from 0.81 to 0.9, with specific values of 0.91 for anteromedial reach, 0.91 for medial reach, 0.87 for posteromedial reach, 0.81 for posterior reach, 0.83 for posterolateral reach, 0.94 for lateral reach, 0.88 for anterolateral reach, and 0.90 for anterior reach (p = 0.00 for all). Conclusion: The SEBT demonstrated good intra-rater test-retest reliability for assessing dynamic balance in young, healthy adults. The test can be reliably used to evaluate balance and postural stability in both clinical and sports settings.