Feasibility and reliability of dynamic postural control measures in children in first through fifth grades

Although dynamic postural control is a prerequisite to the development of fundamental movement skills in children, few studies have examined the feasibility and reliability of assessment techniques that measure dynamic postural control in youth under 13 years of age. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and reliability of the Lower Quarter Y Balance Test (YBT-LQ) in children and to examine the reproducibility of these measures across developmental periods of childhood.

188 subjects in first through fifth grades (age = 6.9 to 12.1 yr) performed the YBT-LQ on two occasions in a field-based setting. Reach distances and cumulative score (sum of 3 directions) were measured and analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Sub-cohorts of 14 and 8 subjects were used to assess inter-rater reliability within-session and between-session, respectively.

The overall ICC was moderate-to-good for the anterior (right=0.82; left=0.82), posteromedial (right=0.77; left=0.75), and posterolateral (right 0.80; left=0.77) reach directions. The combined ICC was also moderate-to-good for children in grades 1 (0.71), 2 (0.74), 3 (0.84), 4 (0.82), and 5 (0.79). Typical error values for right and left limbs were less than 10% of the mean for all reach measures across all grades. Interrater reliability within session (ICC > 0.995) and between sessions (0.907 ≤ ICC ≤ 0.974) were both excellent. No unexpected responses or injury occurred during testing.

These findings indicate that the YBT-LQ is a feasible and reproducible measure of dynamic postural control in children in first through fifth grades.

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