The Development and Reliability of an Updated Dance-Specific Star Excursion Balance Test (dsSEBT) / Samantha Emery (2020)

Proficient balance is fundamental to performing day-to-day activities. Achieving postural control through dynamic stability, functionally and aesthetically, is an important requirement for most dance genres. To assess dancers balance capabilities, dynamic balance tests should be utilized as most balance tasks used in training and performance require dynamic balance. The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) has been recently modified to render the test more dance-specific; however, these variations are not considered conclusively valid and are therefore not widely used. The aim of this research is to further develop a dance-specific version of the SEBT that may be used by future researchers and clinicians.

This study was conducted as an experimental repeated measures design with multiple stages of analysis. In three different data collection periods, healthy university-level dancers completed numerous variations of the SEBT that altered upper body restrictions, foot positions, the balance surface, tempo, and reach order. In the last phase, dancers completed the dsSEBT in order that reliability and internal validity could be established. Numerous variables were measured, including reach distance manually and with a 3D motion camera system, error scores, center of pressure, angular accuracy, and time to completion.

The proposed dsSEBT has high internal validity and test-retest reliability, meaning the test is suitable for researchers and clinicians. The dsSEBT is more dance specific as it targets areas such as proprioception and timing, while also implementing restrictions often used in common dance training and performance settings. Additionally, with the inclusion of reach indicators and a three-tiered error rating system, the dsSEBT allows for more objective measurements. This research establishes baseline values in healthy dancers essential for future developments to identify individuals at risk for injury.