Y Balance Test

The Y Balance Test™ (YBT) is a simple, yet reliable, test used to measure dynamic balance (1). It was developed to standardise the modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT), improve its practicality, and make it commercially available (1). Since then, the YBT has gone on to become an extremely popular test due to its simplicity and reliability.

The YBT requires the athlete to balance on one leg whilst simultaneously reaching as far as possible with the other leg in three separate directions: anterior, posterolateral, and posteromedial. Therefore, this test measures the athlete’s strength, stability and balance in various directions. The YBT composite score is calculated by summing the 3 reach directions and normalizing the results to the lower limb length, whereas asymmetry is the difference between right and left limb reach (1) – this is explained in greater detail in the scoring system section.

Whilst previous injury or surgery appears to have no impact on test performance in collegiate athletes (1), the test has been shown to have strong relationships with knee flexor and hip abductor strength (2). Though little research has been conducted on the YBT and athletic injury risk, most of the assumptions regarding injury risk are extracted from research on the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) due to its large similarity to the YBT. For example, an anterior reach asymmetry of greater than 4cm during the SEBT has been suggested to predict which individuals are at risk of lower limb injury (3).