The Reliability and Validity of Star Performer™ a Computerized tool for Quantifying the Star Excursion Balance Test.
Yongni Zhang, Yifan Liu, Tao Shang and 7 others
PMID 40469646WHAT IT FOUND
A computerized tool for the Star Excursion Balance Test matched the accuracy of traditional tape measures while reducing measurement error.
It automates data collection and provides instant visual feedback, eliminating the need for clinicians to assume a hands-and-knees position for each reach.
Key findings
01The computerized device showed good to excellent test-retest reliability over one week, with intra-class correlation coefficients ranging from 0.85 to 0.93 across all directions.
02Measurements from the computerized tool correlated strongly with traditional tape measure distances, with correlation coefficients between 0.90 and 0.94.
03The computerized method demonstrated smaller minimal detectable change values across seven of eight directions compared to the tape measure, indicating reduced measurement error.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only young and active participants with lower extremity injuries, so the results may not generalize to older adults or those with different injury profiles. Reliability was only tested over a one-week interval, so it is unknown if the device maintains this precision for long-term follow-up. The study compared the device to a tape measure, not to a gold-standard motion capture system, so absolute accuracy against a laboratory standard was not verified.
Declared interests
The study was conducted by researchers at Duquesne University. The text does not explicitly state external commercial funding or conflicts of interest, though the device is manufactured by GDE Technologies.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the computerized device is superior in absolute accuracy because it showed less measurement error. The two methods measure different anatomical points (ankle vs. toe), so the computerized scores will not be numerically identical to traditional tape measure scores and cannot be directly compared to established normative data based on toe-to-center measurements.