P&P#38

P&P #38. The Vertical Jump Test May Not Be Assessing What It Is Claimed To Test.

The vertical jump (or Sargent) jump test is often prescribed to estimate the power of the lower extremities of an athlete. The absolute height jumped is important for volleyballers, basketballers and others where the height reached plays a central role in the sport, whereas the power (calculated from the jump height and the athlete's bodymass or determined from force plate recordings) developed is more important in sports such as field athletics and weightlifting. In sports such as rugby and American football, both power and absolute height may be important.

The test would seem straightforward enough until we ask which jumping technique was used:

	(a) from a static start with knees partly bent and without arm swing
	(b) from a static start with arm swing
	(c) from a dynamic start using a sudden knee-dip, but no arm swing
	(d) from a dynamic start using a sudden knee-dip with arm swing
	(e) from a running start with a knee-dip and no arm swing
	(f) from a running start with knee-dip and arm swing. Of course, most standard tests rely on method (c) or (d) and the results should then be consistent and reproducible.

But exactly what are these tests (and the other ones) telling us? Each way of testing yields different information. What is each one telling us about eccentric muscle strength, explosive is ometric strength, concentric muscle strength, starting strength, elastic energy usage, plyometric capability and so on? Which is the best test to use in specific situations?

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