title: The validity of the SmartJump contact mat.
abstract: The aim of this study was to establish the criterion validity of the SmartJump contact mat in assessing vertical jump height (VJH) and peak power (PP). Twenty-three participants (15 men, age = 26 ± 6 years; 8 women, age = 26 ± 9 years) completed a maximal effort vertical jump using 3 different jump types (countermovement jump [CMJ], countermovement with arms [CMJA], and squat jump [SJ]). Data were simultaneously collected on both the contact mat and force platform. Vertical jump height was calculated using the time in air (TIA) method with both force platform (TIA(platform)) and contact mat (TIA(mat)) data and the takeoff velocity (TOV) method using the force platform (TOV(platform)) data. Peak power was calculated using a validated equation. The results showed that VJH and PP calculated using the TIA(mat) method were significantly greater than that calculated from the TIA(platform) and TOV(platform) methods for all jump types (VJH: p < 0.001, PP: p < 0.001). The results from this study show clear discrepancies between apparatus and calculation methods that may have implications for practitioners and should be considered when assessing VJH and PP in the field.
authors: Department of Life Sciences, Whitelands College, University of Roehampton, London, United Kingdom. t.reeve@roehampton.ac.uk
authors: Tom C
authors: TC
authors: Reeve
authors: Christopher J
authors: CJ
authors: Tyler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult