Considerations for Normalizing
Measures of the Star Excursion Balance
Test
Phillip A. Gribble and Jay Hertel
Department of Kinesiology
Athletic Training Research Lab
Pennsylvania State University
This study was designed to examine the role of foot type, height, leg length, and
range of motion (ROM) measurements on excursion distances while performing the
Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), a test of dynamic postural control. Participants
(n = 30) performed 3 trials of the SEBT in each of the 8 directions while balancing on
the right and left legs. No statistically significant relations were found between foot
type or ROM measurements and excursion distances with the SEBT. Significant cor-
relations were revealed between height and excursion distance and leg length and ex-
cursion distance with leg length having the stronger correlation. Using raw excursion
measures, males were found to have significantly greater excursion distances than fe-
males; however, after normalizing excursion distances to leg length, there were no
significant differences related to gender. In conclusion, when using the SEBT for ex-
perimental or clinical purposes, participants’ excursion distances should be normal-
ized to leg length to allow for a more accurate comparison of performance among
participants.
Key words: postural control, foot type, dynamic balance
Measurement of postural control is an important tool in the assessment of pediat-
ric, geriatric, and athletic populations for establishing levels of neuromuscular
function for the purposes of injury prevention and rehabilitation. Postural control
is often described as being either static (attempting to maintain a position with
MEASUREMENT IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND EXERCISE SCIENCE, 7(2), 89–100
Copyright © 2003, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
Requests for reprints should be sent to Phillip Gribble, Penn State University, 266 Recreation
Building, University Park, PA 16802. E-mail: gribblepa@hotmail.com