title: Comparison and analysis of three different methods to evaluate vertical jump height.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare three methods to assess vertical jump height, to determine their limitations and to propose solutions to mitigate their effects. The chosen methods were the contact mat, the optical system and the Sargent jump. The testing environment was designed such that all three systems simultaneously measured the vertical jump height. A total of 41 kinesiology students (18 women, 23 men, mean age 23·2 ± 4·5 years) participated in this study. Data show that the contact mat and the optical system essentially provide similar results (P = 0·912) and that the correlation coefficient between the two systems was 0·972 (r(2)  = 0·944). However, it was found that the Sargent jump has a tendency to overestimate the height, providing a measurement that is significantly different from the other two methods as the jumps are higher than 30·64 cm (P = 0·044). Through the design of the experiment, several sources of errors were identified and mathematically modelled. These sources include optical sensor placement, flat-footed landing and hip/knee bend. Whenever possible, the errors were quantified and solutions were proposed.
authors.affiliation: Département des sciences appliquées, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, QC, Canada; Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur la qualité et les saines habitudes de vie de l'UQAC, Saguenay, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Hung Tien
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.forename: Marie-Isabelle
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Farinas
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fortin
authors.forename: Alain-Steve
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Comtois
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014160:Transducers, Pressure; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Sargent jump; contact mat; lower limb power; optical sensor; reliability