Star Excursion Balance Test

Damage to the lateral ankle ligaments have long been one of the most commonly occurring injuries in physically active populations and are frequently evaluated and treated by health care professionals (de Vries et al., 2011; Beynnon et al., 2001; Garrick, 1977). The rate of reinjury to the ankle joint has been reported to be as high as seventy to eighty percent, with reduced proprioceptive capabilities post-injury being labelled as a major contributing factor (Webster and Gribble, 2010; Akbari et al., 2006). Rehabilitation of the ankle through neuromuscular training following an injury is a vital cog in the recovery wheel (Chaiwanichsiri et al., 2005). The ‘Star Excursion Balance Test’ (SEBT) is a highly effective rehabilitative tool that has
This alone places a gargantuan strain on already stretched resources. The lateral ankle ligaments are most commonly injured on landing from a jump or soon after the rear foot contacts the ground during gait, where the foot supinates excessively about an externally rotated lower limb exceeding the tensile strength of the tissues, resulting in damage to the ligament complex (Hertel, 2002). Those with a previous history of an ankle sprain are more likely to suffer a similar injury than those with no history of ligament sprains (Braun, 1999; Hintermann, 1999; Bahr 1997). This damage, if left untreated, can lead the phenomenon of repetitive ankle sprains, or chronic ankle instability (CAI), a common problem among active individuals (Hale et al., 2007). CAI is associated with a number of functional impairments (Hertel, 2002), including deficits in postural control, impaired proprioception, and a negative impact on neuromuscular control (Hertel and Olmsted-Kramer, 2007; Hertel, 2002). Prevention of ankle injury reoccurrence through proper rehabilitation is therefore of paramount importance, and can result in substantial cost savings for health services (Kerkhoffs et al.,
While they serve their purpose well in laboratory settings, their high cost and lack of portability has made discovering assessment techniques that can provide efficient, cost-effective, sensitive, and reliable data about dynamic movement important (Gribble et al., 2012). Examples of dynamic balance tests that are used are Time to Stabilization, the Dynamic Postural Stability Index, and the SEBT. The SEBT has been shown to detect significant deficits in postural control in those suffering from chronic ankle instability (Gribble et al., 2004), and compared to force plates can be used in a range of clinical environments (Rasool and George, 2007). It is also a more effective rehabilitative tool than conventional therapy programs in improving functional stability following an ankle sprain (Chaiwanichsiri et al.,