A client may sprint forward confidently but look slow, stiff or uncoordinated when asked to move sideways. This matters in field and court sports where athletes need to shuffle, defend, reposition and change direction quickly.
The Edgren Side Step Test gives professionals a simple way to assess lateral movement speed and repeat the measure over time. It can be useful for athletes, active clients, rehabilitation progress tracking and general movement screening. The key is to keep the setup, timing, surface, footwear and scoring method consistent.
This article explains how to perform the Edgren Side Step Test, how to interpret results, what benchmark evidence is available, and how to record it clearly in Measurz.
Test name: Edgren Side Step Test
Also known as: Edgren side-step test, lateral side-step test, ESST
Purpose: Assess planned lateral agility and side-to-side movement speed
What it assesses: Lateral stepping speed, rhythm, coordination, balance and planned change of direction
Equipment: Flat non-slip surface, tape/chalk/cones or MAT markings, stopwatch or timer
Measurz/MAT score: Highest number of successful steps in 15 seconds across three trials
Best used with: Agility T-Test, 505 Agility Test, Illinois Agility Test, lateral hop testing, single-leg balance and lower-limb strength testing
Key limitation: It is a pre-planned lateral movement test, not a reactive sport agility test
The Edgren Side Step Test is a timed lateral movement test. The Measurz/MAT article describes a 4 m line marked in 1 m intervals, with the client moving side-to-side as quickly and accurately as possible for 15 seconds.
Published versions of the Edgren Side Step Test vary. Some research describes the original or standardised ESST as a 10-second test over a 4 m course, with performance recorded as the distance or number of 1 m sections covered.
Because different versions use different durations and scoring methods, results should only be compared with the same protocol.
The Edgren Side Step Test is used to assess how efficiently a client can move laterally under time pressure. It may help identify:
reduced lateral quickness
poor rhythm or coordination
hesitation or reduced confidence
balance issues during repeated side stepping
fatigue-related changes in movement quality
side-to-side movement control limitations
It can also support progress tracking when a client is returning to multidirectional running, court sport, field sport, tactical activity or higher-level exercise.
The Edgren Side Step Test measures planned lateral stepping speed and coordination. It provides practical information about how quickly a client can move side-to-side while maintaining control.
It does not directly measure:
reactive agility
sport decision-making
opponent response
maximal sprint speed
lower-limb power in isolation
injury diagnosis
return-to-sport clearance on its own
A better score may suggest improved lateral movement capacity, but interpretation should include movement quality, pain, confidence, balance and related strength or hop findings.
The test may be useful for:
field sport athletes
court sport athletes
dancers and multidirectional athletes
tactical populations
older adults when a safe version is appropriate
rehabilitation clients progressing toward lateral movement
general fitness clients who need to monitor side-to-side movement
Use caution with clients who have acute pain, poor balance, dizziness, recent lower-limb injury, significant fear of movement or difficulty following instructions.
You will need:
flat, dry, non-slip testing surface
tape, chalk, cones, floor markers or MAT markings
straight 4 m line with markers at 1 m intervals
stopwatch, timer or timing app
Measurz/MAT record for storing results
optional: video capture for movement quality review
Keep the same footwear and surface for retesting wherever possible.
Mark a straight 4 m line on the ground with markers at 1 m intervals. The Measurz/MAT version allows chalk, tape, Hop MAT or cones.
Use a flat, safe surface with enough room around the line.
Tell the client:
“Move sideways as quickly as you can while staying controlled. Stay facing forward, avoid crossing your feet, and try to complete as many successful steps as possible in 15 seconds.”
Have the client stand at one end of the line with feet together and arms relaxed. Check that they understand which direction to move first.
Allow one submaximal practice trial if the client is unfamiliar with the movement. Keep practice consistent across future sessions.
On “go”, start the timer. The client side-steps over the line, returns to the starting position, then repeats to the opposite side as quickly and accurately as possible.
Continue for 15 seconds for the Measurz/MAT protocol.
Count the number of successful steps completed during the test period. Do not count incomplete or uncontrolled movements if the scoring rule has been breached.
Rest for approximately 30 seconds, then repeat. Complete three trials and record the best score, as described in the current MAT protocol.
The score is the highest number of successful steps achieved across three trials.
A higher score generally suggests better lateral stepping speed, rhythm and planned change-of-direction capacity. A lower score may suggest reduced lateral movement capacity, poor confidence, fatigue, pain, balance difficulty or reduced coordination.
Interpret the score alongside:
movement quality
pain score
symptoms during and after the test
balance or loss of control
hesitancy
foot crossing
trunk lean
footwear and surface
fatigue level
sport or work demands
comparison with previous Measurz results
A fast score with poor control should not be interpreted as “better” without context. For example, a client who achieves a high count but repeatedly loses balance, crosses feet, reports pain or cannot maintain frontal-plane control may need further assessment.
No high-quality published normative values were found for the exact Measurz/MAT 15-second protocol using the same scoring method.
The closest useful reference comes from published research using a 10-second ESST over a 4 m course in 97 young, physically active male U.S. Army servicemembers aged 18–39 years. In that study, the mean ESST distance was 24.27 ± 2.29 m at session two, with a range of 20–30 m.
This is a useful performance context only. It should not be used as a strict pass/fail benchmark for the Measurz/MAT 15-second version because the test duration and scoring format differ.
For Measurz users, the most meaningful comparisons are:
the client’s own baseline
repeated tests using the same protocol
left/right movement quality if relevant
sport or activity demands
confidence and symptom response
progress across a training or rehabilitation block
comparison with related tests such as lateral hop, T-Test, 505 Agility Test or single-leg balance
Small score changes may reflect timing, counting, surface, fatigue or learning effects. Stronger interpretation comes from consistent improvement across sessions, better movement quality and results that align with symptoms, function or performance goals.
Evidence for the exact Measurz/MAT 15-second protocol is limited. The best available evidence comes from similar 10-second or modified Edgren protocols.
In young, physically active male servicemembers, the 10-second ESST showed excellent interrater reliability with ICC/r = 0.92 and moderate test-retest reliability with ICC/r = 0.62. The same study reported SEM = 1.41 m and MDC = 3.91 m, meaning that changes smaller than this may reflect measurement error in that population and protocol.
That study also found moderate relationships between the ESST and other agility tests: ESST with T-Test r = -0.69 and ESST with Illinois Agility Test r = -0.65. The negative relationship is expected because a greater ESST distance is better, while lower times are better for timed agility tests.
A 2020 study using a modified Edgren Side Step Test found that accelerometer-derived overall time was not significantly different from stopwatch timing and that ankle-worn sensors could add split-time and lag-time information. This supports the idea that instrumented versions may provide useful extra detail, but those results apply to the modified protocol rather than the standard Measurz/MAT 15-second score.
Sensitivity and specificity are not applicable for routine use of the Edgren Side Step Test because it is a performance test, not a stand-alone diagnostic or screening test.
The result may support clinical reasoning, performance profiling and progress tracking, but it does not confirm, rule in or rule out an injury or condition.
Common testing errors include:
changing the line length or marker spacing
using 10-second and 15-second versions interchangeably
comparing step count with distance-based research results
inconsistent timing or late stopwatch start
counting incomplete steps
allowing foot crossing when the protocol does not allow it
changing footwear or surface between sessions
not recording pain, symptoms or confidence
ignoring movement quality
using the test as the only return-to-sport measure
The biggest limitation is that the test is pre-planned. It does not assess perception, reaction, tactical decision-making, opponent response or sport-specific reactive agility.
The Edgren Side Step Test can be used to:
monitor lateral agility over time
assess confidence during side-to-side movement
track progress after lower-limb injury
support return-to-running or return-to-sport progressions
complement strength, hop and balance testing
compare movement quality before and after training blocks
identify when a client needs more lateral control, deceleration or coordination work
Use it as one part of a broader assessment. For sport decisions, combine it with strength testing, hop tests, balance/proprioception measures, sprint or agility tests, pain response, training exposure and professional judgement.
Record enough detail to make retesting meaningful.
In Measurz, include:
test name: Edgren Side Step Test
protocol version: Measurz/MAT 15-second version
score/result: best successful step count
units: steps or successful movements
trial number: trial 1, trial 2, trial 3 and best score
rest time between trials
surface type
footwear
direction started
pain score before, during and after
symptoms reported
confidence rating if relevant
fatigue level
movement quality notes
invalid trials and reason
compensations such as foot crossing, trunk lean, loss of balance or hesitation
comparison with previous baseline
related findings such as hop, balance, strength or ROM results
planned retest date
A useful note might read:
“Edgren Side Step Test, 15 sec, 4 m line with 1 m markers. Best of 3 trials = 28 successful steps. Indoor rubber surface, same footwear as baseline. Mild right ankle discomfort 2/10 during final trial. No foot crossing. Slight hesitation changing direction to the right. Retest in 3 weeks.”
Suggested related Measurz links:
Modified Edgren Side Step Test
Agility T-Test
Illinois Agility Test
505 Agility Test
Lateral Hop Test
Single Leg Balance
Hip abduction strength
Ankle stability tests
Lower-limb strength testing
It measures planned lateral stepping speed, coordination, rhythm and side-to-side movement control.
The Measurz/MAT protocol uses a 15-second test period, three trials and approximately 30 seconds of rest between trials.
No. It can support assessment and progress tracking, but it does not diagnose an injury or condition on its own.
There is no universal score for all clients. Use the client’s baseline, repeated measures and activity demands. The closest published benchmark found was a 10-second, 4 m ESST in young active male servicemembers, but that should not be directly applied to the 15-second Measurz/MAT version.
Not directly. The test duration and scoring method affect the result. Keep the same version for baseline and retesting.
The Edgren Side Step Test is a simple and practical lateral agility test.
Use the same course, timing, surface, footwear and scoring rules every time.
The Measurz/MAT version uses a 15-second test period and the best score from three trials.
Published benchmark evidence mostly uses different 10-second or modified versions, so apply it cautiously.
Interpret the result with pain, symptoms, confidence, movement quality and related tests.
Edgren, H. D. (1932). An experiment in the testing of ability and progress in basketball. Research Quarterly, 3(1), 159–171.
Raya, M. A., Gailey, R. S., Gaunaurd, I. A., Jayne, D. M., Campbell, S. M., Gagne, E., Manrique, P. G., Muller, D. G., & Tucker, C. (2013). Comparison of three agility tests with male servicemembers: Edgren Side Step Test, T-Test, and Illinois Agility Test. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 50(7), 951–960. https://doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2012.05.0096
Staggers, N., Miller, M. G., & Grooms, D. R. (2021). The reliability and validity of a modified Edgren Side-Step Test for female high school basketball players. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 16(2), 231–240.
Wilshaw, W. R., Stevens, A. M., Anderson, A. M., & Tulchin-Francis, K. (2020). Validation of accelerometry data to identify movement patterns during agility testing. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 2, 563809. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2020.563809
