The Y Balance Test Lower Quarter is 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 Y Balance Test Lower Quarter (YBT-LQ) in older adults. A secondary aim was to provide estimates of reliability with this population. Thirty male (n=15) and female (n=15) subjects (66.8+6.5 years) performed the YBT-LQ, 30-second Chair Stand Test (CST), 8' Up and Go (8UG), Timed Up and Go (TUG), Single Leg Stance (SLS) and Activities Specific Balance Confidence (ABCS) 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), TUG (p=0.003), 8UG (p<0.001), CST (p<0.001), ABCS (p=0.002) and SLS (p=0.005) performance. The ICC[3,1] score for the reliability of the YBT-LQ was 0.95 (95% CI [0.89, 0.97]). The YBT-LQ appears to be a valid and reliable assessment to use with older adults.