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Test-Retest Reliability, Parallel Test Reliability, and Internal Consistency of Balance Assessments in Young Healthy
Teni Steingräber1, Leon von Grönheim1, Jana Wienecke2
1Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany.
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
|November 24, 2025
Summary
Objective balance assessments show good reliability between sessions and legs. However, different balance tests are not consistently measuring the same aspects, indicating balance is task-specific.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Kinesiology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Objective balance evaluation is vital for research, rehabilitation, sports, and daily activities.
- Technological advancements are driving the development of new balance assessment tools.
- Assessing the methodological quality of these tools is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the methodological quality of differential balance assessments in young, healthy adults.
- To compare the reliability and consistency of technologically advanced (force plate) and conventional (test kit) balance tests.
- To investigate test-retest reliability, parallel test reliability, and internal consistency.
Main Methods:
- Applied two force plate assessments (Single-Leg Landing Test, Single-Leg Squat Test) and one conventional test (Y-Balance Test) to 42 students.
- Collected data at two different time points to assess reliability.
- Evaluated test-retest reliability, parallel test reliability, and internal consistency for each test and item.
Main Results:
- All tested balance assessments demonstrated excellent to acceptable test-retest reliability.
- Internal consistency varied, with only some items showing consistency across all tests.
- Parallel test reliability was generally low, suggesting different tests measure distinct balance components.
- Balance performance consistency between right and left legs was excellent or good for all items.
Conclusions:
- High test-retest reliability and inter-limb consistency indicate good methodological quality for the assessed balance tests.
- The lack of parallel test reliability supports the concept that balance ability is task-specific, not a general trait.
- Further research into the biological and neural underpinnings of different balance tasks is recommended.
