Efficacy of the star excursion balance test in detecting reach deficits in subjects with chronic low back pain.

Study design: The study design is a case control study.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate how chronic low back pain (CLBP) affects the performance of Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT).

Background: Chronic low back pain is associated with paraspinal and other trunk muscle weakness and reduction in coordination of low back muscles. This reduction in muscular strength and coordination contributes to decreased postural stability, balance and neuromuscular control in subjects with CLBP. SEBT is a simple, reliable and valid method of dynamic performance and is an alternative to more sophisticated instrumented methods. However, no study has evaluated the effect of SEBT on CLBP patients.

Methods and measures: Ten patients with CLBP (localized back pain, lasting more than 6 months and radiating no further than the buttock with normal neurological examination) and 10 normal age and sex matched subjects (mean age 34.30 + 8.67(range 22-50) participated in this study. All participants completed the SEBT on their dominant leg, and distance measures were collected and compared between groups.

Results: The dependant variable was analysed using independent t-test with p < 0.05. The CLBP group demonstrated significant reductions in excursion distances for all directions of the SEBT compared with the control group, except for the posterior (P) direction (0.281) CONCLUSION: Star Excursion Balance Test is an effective and simple tool to identify and measure reach deficits in patients with CLBP. We recommend using SEBT as an outcome measure to identify dynamic balance, multi-planar excursion and postural control in patients with CLBP.