Reliability of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) in Healthy Children of 12-16 Years

AIM: To establish Inter-rater and Intra-rater reliability of star excursion balance test (SEBT) in children of age 12-16 yrs

Objective: To establish Inter-rater and Intra-rater reliability of SEBT for balance assessment in anterior, antero-lateral, lateral, postero-lareral, posterior, postero-medial, antero-medial direction

Methodology: 200 healthy children between the ages of 12-16years without any obvious motor, sensory or neurological problem that would affect balance were selected. The format and procedure of performing the star excursion balance test was explained them.Test procedure ,assessment and result interpretation were standardized for both examiners .The children were assessed using SEBT on first day by both examiners to test inter- rater reliability and by first examiner after 6 days to test intra rater reliability. Data obtained was analyzed using interclass coefficient.

Result: The ICC ranged from 0.59-0.95 for SEBT scores of both examiners and 0.68-0.95 for SEBT scores evaluated by same examiner on 1st day and 7th day.

Conclusion: SEBT has shown moderate to excellent inter-rater and intra-rater reliability under standardized conditions. Thus it can be used to assess balance in children of 12-16yrs.