Convergent Validity of the Lower Quarter Y Balance Test Against Two-Step and Timed Up and Go Tests in Thai Older Adults with and Without Locomotive Syndrome

Chadapa Rungruangbaiyok, Charupa Lektip, Jiraphat Nawarat, Eiji Miyake, Keiichiro Aoki, Hiroyuki Ohtsuka, Yasuko Inaba, Yoshinori Kagaya and Weeranan Yaemrattanakul ()
Additional contact information
Chadapa Rungruangbaiyok: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Movement Science and Exercise Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhonsithammarat 80160, Thailand
Charupa Lektip: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Movement Science and Exercise Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhonsithammarat 80160, Thailand
Jiraphat Nawarat: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Movement Science and Exercise Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhonsithammarat 80160, Thailand
Eiji Miyake: Department of Rehabilitation, School of Nursing and Rehabilitation Sciences, Showa University, Yokohama-shi 226-8555, Kanagawa, Japan
Keiichiro Aoki: Department of Rehabilitation, School of Nursing and Rehabilitation Sciences, Showa University, Yokohama-shi 226-8555, Kanagawa, Japan
Hiroyuki Ohtsuka: Department of Rehabilitation, School of Nursing and Rehabilitation Sciences, Showa University, Yokohama-shi 226-8555, Kanagawa, Japan
Yasuko Inaba: Department of Rehabilitation, School of Nursing and Rehabilitation Sciences, Showa University, Yokohama-shi 226-8555, Kanagawa, Japan
Yoshinori Kagaya: Department of Rehabilitation, School of Nursing and Rehabilitation Sciences, Showa University, Yokohama-shi 226-8555, Kanagawa, Japan
Weeranan Yaemrattanakul: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90110, Thailand

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Locomotive syndrome (LS) predisposes older adults to falls and functional dependency. In older adults with LS, the validity of the Lower Quarter Y Balance Test (YBT-LQ)—a dynamic balance assessment tool—remains unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the convergent validity of the YBT-LQ with the Two-Step and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests and compare YBT-LQ performance between individuals with and without LS. Sixty Thai community-dwelling older adults (≥60 years) were equally divided into LS and non-LS groups and performed the YBT-LQ, Two-Step test, and TUG test. Correlation analyses and independent t -tests assessed relationships and between-group comparisons, respectively. The YBT-LQ exhibited moderate positive correlations with the Two-Step test ( r = 0.366, p = 0.004) and moderate negative correlations with the TUG test ( r = −0.412, p = 0.001). The LS group exhibited significantly lower YBT-LQ scores across all reach directions than the non-LS group ( p < 0.05), highlighting impaired balance in individuals with LS. The YBT-LQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing dynamic balance and postural control, as well as identifying multidirectional stability deficits in older adults, particularly those with LS. Implementing the YBT-LQ in routine geriatric evaluations could enhance early detection and targeted interventions to reduce fall risk and improve mobility in aging populations.

Keywords: Y balance test; locomotive syndrome; dynamic balance; fall risk; older adults; functional mobility; timed up and go test; two-step test (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/4/538/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/4/538/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:4:p:538-:d:1625919

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().