Modified Bass Test of Dynamic Balance
The Bass test is a assessment of balance, in which the participants alternate foot hopping and holding a static position for five seconds at each point. The procedure described here is for the Modified Bass Test of Dynamic Balance test.
purpose: to measure dynamic balance
equipment required: adequate floor space, sticky tape for marking floor, measuring tape, stopwatch.
pre-test: Explain the test procedures to the subject. Perform screening of health risks and obtain informed consent. Prepare forms and record basic information such as age, height, body weight, gender, test conditions. Perform an appropriate warm-up. See more details of pre-test procedures.
procedure: The course is marked out as illustrated in the diagram. The subject begins by standing stationary on the right foot on the starting point square. The subject then hops to the first tape mark with the left foot and immediately holds a static position for five seconds. After this time, he then hops to the second tape mark with the right foot and holds a static position for another five seconds. This continues with alternate foot hopping and holding a static position for five seconds at each point until the course is completed. At each point, the sole of the foot must completely cover each tape mark so that it cannot be seen. A period of practice with the procedure and on the course should be allowed.
scoring: the result is recorded as either a success or fail. A successful performance consists of hopping to each tape mark without touching the floor with the heel or any other part of the body, and holding a static position on each tape mark for five seconds without exposing the tape mark.
advantages: this is a simple test to perform with simple and inexpensive equipment.
disadvantages:
- As the marker distances remain the same for all participants, a taller person may have little trouble performing the jump, while a shorter athlete may struggle considerably.
- The test can be time consuming if it needs to be performed on a large group of individuals.
- There is no grading in the scoring method, so a range of balance abilities cannot be determined.
Similar Tests
- The Multiple Single-Leg Hop-Stabilization Test (MSLHST) is a dynamic and static balance test developed from the Bass test
Related Pages
- Other balance tests
- About balance testing
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