Relationship between the modified star excursion balance test and the 4×10 m shuttle run test in children

Abstract

Agility and dynamic balance are crucial skills in prepubertal physical activity and sport participation, so the identification of efficient tests for their assessment is necessary. To evaluate the correlation between agility and dynamic balance in primary school children. Twenty-seven boys and twenty girls aged 10 years, volunteered to participate in the study. The modified Star excursion balance test and the 4x10 m shuttle run test were used in order to assess dynamic balance and agility respectively. Dynamic balance composite scores with the right stance showed a moderate significant correlation (r = -0.51, p < 0.05) with the agility test only among boys. However, significant correlation among girls (r = -0.45, p < 0.05) was showed during the posterolateral reaching distance of the Star excursion balance test. The performance of the complete test or the posteromedial and posterolateral reaching distances of the Star excursion balance test is moderately associated with agility among boys, whereas the posterolateral distance is associated with agility among girls.