Y-Balance Test: A Reliability Study Involving Multiple Raters

TLDR

The Y‑balance test is one of few field‑expedient assessments with predictive validity for injury risk in athletes, yet its reliability in heterogeneous active adults screened by multiple inexperienced raters remains unstudied. This study aimed to evaluate interrater test–retest reliability of the Y‑balance test in a military setting with multiple raters. Sixty‑four active‑duty service members (53 males, 11 females) volunteered to participate in the reliability assessment. The Y‑balance test demonstrated good interrater reliability (ICC 0.80–0.93, SEM 2.0–4.2 cm) and 31.3 % of participants showed >4 cm anterior reach asymmetry, indicating potential injury risk.

Abstract

The Y-balance test (YBT) is one of the few field expedient tests that have shown predictive validity for injury risk in an athletic population. However, analysis of the YBT in a heterogeneous population of active adults (e.g., military, specific occupations) involving multiple raters with limited experience in a mass screening setting is lacking. The primary purpose of this study was to determine interrater test–retest reliability of the YBT in a military setting using multiple raters. Sixty-four service members (53 males, 11 females) actively conducting military training volunteered to participate. Interrater test–retest reliability of the maximal reach had intraclass correlation coefficients (2,1) of 0.80 to 0.85 with a standard error of measurement ranging from 3.1 to 4.2 cm for the 3 reach directions (anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral). Interrater test–retest reliability of the average reach of 3 trails had an intraclass correlation coefficients (2,3) range of 0.85 to 0.93 with an associated standard error of measurement ranging from 2.0 to 3.5cm. The YBT showed good interrater test–retest reliability with an acceptable level of measurement error among multiple raters screening active duty service members. In addition, 31.3% (n = 20 of 64) of participants exhibited an anterior reach asymmetry of >4cm, suggesting impaired balance symmetry and potentially increased risk for injury.