Original Research Reports lntratester and lntertester Reliability During the Star Excursion Balance Tests JayHertel, S. JohnMiller, and Craig R. Denegar 0bjective:To estimate intratester and intertester reliability and learning effects during the Star Excursion Balance Tests (SEBTs). Setting:A university athletic training research laboratory. Subjeds:Sixteen healthy volunteers with no history of balance disorders or significant lower extremity joint pathology. Measurements: Length of excursion was measured manually for each trial. Results: lCCs for intratester reliability were .78-.96 on day 1 and 32-.96 on day 2. lCCs for intertester reliability were .35-.84 on day 1 and .81-.93 on day 2. Signifi- cant learning effects were identified for 4 of the 8 tests. Conclusions:Estimates of intratester and intertester reliability were high, but adequate practice trials should be performed before taking baseline measures. Key Words:dynamic balance, postural control, functional performance, motor learn- ing Hertel J, Miller SJ, Denegar CR. lntratester and intertester reliability during the Star Excursion Balance Tests. 1 Sport Rehabil. 2000;9,104-116. O 2000 Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc. Quantification of dynamic balance has been advocated for use as a clinical measure of functional performance following injury; however, the vast majority of dynamicbalance protocols reported in the rehabilitation litera- ture were developed for the pediatric1r2 and geriatrics9 populations or for those recovering from cerebrovascular accidents or traumatic brain inju- ries.1°Few noninstrumenteddynamicbalance protocols have been reported that effectively challenge the postural control systemsof well-conditioned, physically active individuals recovering from lower extremity injuries. One such test battery is the Star Excursion Balance Tests (SEBTs).11J2 The SEBTs are a series of 8 unilateral balance tests that incorporate a single-leg stance of 1 leg with a maximum targeted reach of the free leg. The stance leg operates in the closed kinetic chain with coupled motion at the ankle, knee, and hip joints as the opposite leg reaches in the specified direction. As the targeted reach is performed with the foot, the postural control system is challenged as the body's center of mass is moved in rela- The authors are with the Department of Kinesiology, Athletic Training Research Labo- ratory, at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. John Miller and Craig Denegar are also affiliated with the Penn State Center for Sports Medicine.