CRITICAL CONSIDERATIONS ON THE SINGLE VERTICAL JUMP TEST AS AN INDICATOR OF LOWER-LIMB POWER: PRELIMINARY FINDINGS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/subbeag.70.sp.iss.1.11Keywords:
vertical jump, lower-limb power, sport assessment, athletic performance, predictive models, countermovement jumpAbstract
Introduction: The vertical jump test (VJT) is widely used to estimate lower-limb power through predictive equations, but the theoretical validity of these models remains uncertain. Objective: This preliminary study aimed to compare three predictive equations (Lewis, Harman, Johnson & Bahamonde) for estimating average lower-limb power from VJT, focusing on discrepancies in outcomes and theoretical validity. Material and Methods: Five healthy male students (age 20.2 ± 0.2 years; height 178.6 ± 4.72 cm; body mass 73.0 ± 8.12 kg) performed countermovement jumps (CMJ) measured with the OptoJump system, with the best trial retained for analysis. Average power was calculated using the three predictive equations. Descriptive statistics (M ± SD) were computed, and differences between models were analyzed with the Friedman test. Effect size was quantified with Kendall’s W. Results: Significant differences were found between formulas (χ² (2) = 10.000, p = 0.007, W = 0.67, large effect). The Johnson & Bahamonde model yielded the highest values, followed by Harman and Lewis. None of the equations demonstrated dimensional homogeneity. Discussion: Findings highlight systematic discrepancies between predictive models, raising concerns about their reliability in practice. The lack of dimensional consistency undermines the theoretical validity of these equations, despite their continued use in applied settings. Consequently, classification of athletes based solely on these formulas may be misleading. Conclusions: Predictive equations for estimating lower-limb power from vertical jumps produce inconsistent results and fail to satisfy dimensional homogeneity. Future approaches should integrate time-dependent variables to ensure biomechanical validity and reliability.
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