Y-Balance Test: A Valid and Reliable Assessment in Older Adults.

Testing balance and fall risk with older adults of varying abilities is of increasing importance. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the lower quarter Y-balance test (YBT-LQ) in older adults. A secondary aim was to provide estimates of reliability with this population. A total of 30 male (n = 15) and female (n = 15) subjects (66.8 ± 6.5 years) performed the YBT-LQ, 30-s chair stand test, 8-foot up and go test, timed up and go test, single-leg stance, and Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale questionnaire. The YBT-LQ was performed on two separate occasions by two investigators in random order. YBT-LQ was significantly correlated with age (p < .01), timed up and go test (p = .003), 8-foot up and go test (p < .001), 30-s chair stand test (p < .001), Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (p = .002), and single-leg stance (p = .005) performance. The intraclass correlation coefficient(3,1) score for the reliability of the YBT-LQ was .95 (95% confidence interval [.89, .97]). The YBT-LQ appears to be a valid and reliable assessment to use with older adults.