Background: Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) is a balance test in which the participant stands with one foot in the centre of the testing grid and reaching with the bare foot as far as possible. The purpose of the present study is first to determine the learning effect and to compare normalized results of the SEBT between the groups of young and older adults. Methods: 30 young and 20 older adults participated in the study. The results of individual measurements were normalized and then compared between the two groups. For data analysis, we used descriptive statistics. Results: The learning effect was found in all eight directions. Young participants demonstrated highest (4 %) increase in posterior and lowest (1 %) in anterior direction. Older participants demonstrated highest (13 %) increase in posterior and lowest (3 %) in medial direction. On average, the older group reached about 80 % of the results compared to the younger group. Conclusions: We found that the SEBT is reliable even in a group of physically fit older adults. The learning effect is present in both groups and it has to be considered while performing the SEBT, and therefore we recommend a minimum of four attempts in all eight directions for learning and then three attempts, in which reached distances are measured. As a result of the test, the average of three normalized distances is used.
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