Responsiveness of the Star Excursion Balance Test on Firm and Unstable Underground

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the responsiveness of the classic Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and of a modified version performed on a soft surface (Airex Balance-Pad). The classic Star Excursion Balance Test is widely used in persons with chronic ankle instability. For the use in healthy athletes, the test can be made more difficult by performing it on a soft surface. Design: Pre-post study with balance assessment before and after a five-week intervention. Setting and participants: A convenience sample of 28 healthy adults performed both SEBT variants at baseline and after five weeks (9 sessions) of sensorimotor and strength training. To quantify the responsiveness of the classic SEBT and the SEBT performed on a soft foam (Airex Balance-Pad), effect sizes and standardized response mean were calculated for both test variants. Results: The difference between the Standardized Response Mean of the sum of three directions in the SEBT performed on an Airex Balance-Pad and the SEBT performed on a firm ground was 0.15 in favour of the SEBT on the Balance-Pad with a 95% confidence interval of -0.51 to 0.21). Conclusion: The SEBT performed on a soft underground is slightly more responsive than the SEBT on a firm underground.