Concurrent Validity and Reliability of Three Ultra-Portable Vertical Jump Assessment Technologies

Effect of non-elastic taping on vertical stiffness of healthy athletes during a basketball jump shot

BACKGROUND

Basketball is a high-risk team sport for lower extremity injuries, with ankle sprains being the most common injury. Non-elastic tape is widely used in injury prevention and quick return to play after ankle sprains, but its impact on stiffness, particularly global stiffness, has not been thoroughly investigated.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of non-elastic ankle taping on vertical stiffness, among basketball players during the jump shot tasks; and to assess the reliability of accelerometers to evaluate vertical stiffness.

DESIGN

Single group, repeated measures study.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty healthy semi-professional basketball players (15 males and 15 females) participated in the study.

INTERVENTIONS

Vertical stiffness was compared among three conditions: 1) without taping, 2) while the non-elastic tape was applied to their ankles, and 3) after running while taped. Vertical stiffness was calculated from acceleration data using a mass-spring model.

RESULTS

The result of a one-way repeated measures ANOVA showed that vertical stiffness was not significantly different between the three conditions (P = 0.162). Within-day and between-day reliability for average measurements were found to be high or very high.

CONCLUSION

The findings showed that the vertical stiffness is unaffected by non-elastic taping. Therefore, while non-elastic tape can limit ankle range of motion, it may not have an impact on vertical stiffness, a global parameter which reflects the musculoskeletal performance. On the other hand, the high reliability of the stiffness variable supports the use of an accelerometer as a small portable instrument for outdoor sports measurements.

Validity of Commercially Available Punch Trackers

ABSTRACT

Omcirk, D, Vetrovsky, T, Padecky, J, Malecek, J, and Tufano, JJ. Validity of commercially available punch trackers. J Strength Cond Res 37(11): 2273-2281, 2023-This study determined how well data from commercially available punch trackers (Corner, Hykso, and StrikeTec) related to gold-standard velocity and force measures during full-contact punches. In a quasi-randomized order, 20 male subjects performed 6 individual rear straight punches, rear hooks, and rear uppercuts against a wall-mounted force plate. Punch tracker variables were compared with the peak force of the force plate and to the peak (QPV) and mean velocity (QMV) assessed through Qualisys 3-dimensional tracking. For each punch tracker variable, Pearson's correlation coefficient, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and mean percentage error (MPE) were calculated. There were no strong correlations between punch tracker data and gold-standard force and velocity data. However, Hykso "velocity" was moderately correlated with QMV ( r = 0.68, MAPE 0.64, MPE 0.63) and QPV ( r = 0.61, MAPE 0.21, MPE -0.06). Corner Power G was moderately correlated with QMV ( r = 0.59, MAPE 0.65, MPE 0.58) and QPV ( r = 0.58, MAPE 0.27, MPE -0.09), but Corner "velocity" was not. StrikeTec "velocity" was moderately correlated with QMV ( r = 0.56, MAPE 1.49, MPE 1.49) and QPV ( r = 0.55, MAPE 0.46, MPE 0.43). Therefore, none of the devices fared particularly well for all of their data output, and if not willing to accept any room for error, none of these devices should be used. Nevertheless, these devices and their proprietary algorithms may be updated in the future, which would warrant further investigation.

The Relationship of Anthropometric and Physical Performance Characteristics on Competitive Success in Amateur, Elite, and Professional Rodeo Athletes

ABSTRACT

Oranchuk, DJ, Gullett, LK, Kicia, M, Thome, B, and Game, A. The relationship of anthropometric and physical performance characteristics on competitive success in amateur, elite, and professional rodeo athletes. J Strength Cond Res 37(7): 1495-1506, 2023-Reference anthropometric and physical performance qualities can improve understanding of sporting needs and streamline preparation and rehabilitation programs. However, these data and their relationships with competitive success are absent in rodeo athletes. We hypothesized that riding performance would be most correlated with hip adductor, neck, and grip strength, whereas jump, reactive strength index (RSI), and change of direction abilities would best predict bull-fighting performance. Forty-three amateur ( n = 9), professional ( n = 23), or internationally ranked ( n = 11) male rodeo athletes (bareback = 9, bull riders = 16, saddle bronc = 7, bullfighters = 11) (26.8 ± 5.6 years) volunteered for this study. Anthropometrics included body mass, height, and body fat percentage. Performance measures included isometric hip adduction and abduction, neck flexion and extension, handgrip strength, squat and countermovement jump heights, eccentric utilization ratio, reactive strength index, change of direction, bike sprints, and several pneumatic power measures. Bullfighters were taller and heavier than bull riders (effect size [ES] = 0.84-0.87, p = 0.008-0.017). Bull riders were leaner than bullfighters (ES = 0.74, p = 0.012). Fighters had greater RSI than riders (ES = 0.73-1.47, p < 0.001-0.030). Competitive level of rodeo riders ( n = 32) correlated with age, rodeo experience (ρ = 0.37-0.43, p = 0.013-0.049), bent-leg abduction (ρ = 0.43, p = 0.014), straight-leg hip adduction and abduction (ρ = 0.49-0.56, p < 0.001-0.005), neck flexion force (ρ = 0.43, p = 0.016), and rotational power (ρ = 0.50, p = 0.004). The competitive level of the fighters correlated with age (ρ = 0.64, p = 0.036) and time trial performance (ρ = -0.76, p = 0.006). This is the first study providing normative and correlational strength and power performance data in a rodeo population. These data highlight the need for more event-specific physical preparation. Riders should focus their physical preparation on hip and neck strength and rotational power. Bullfighters should prioritize stiffness and anaerobic power.

Test-Retest and Between-Device Reliability of Vmaxpro IMU at Hip and Ankle for Vertical Jump Measurement

The ability to generate force in the lower body can be considered a performance factor in sports. This study aims to analyze the test-retest and between-device reliability related to the location on the body of the inertial measurement unit Vmaxpro for the estimation of vertical jump. Eleven highly trained female athletes performed 220 countermovement jumps (CMJ). Data were simultaneously captured by two Vmaxpro units located between L4 and L5 vertebrae (hip method) and on top of the tibial malleolus (ankle method). Intrasession reliability was higher for ankle (ICC = 0.96; CCC = 0.93; SEM = 1.0 cm; CV = 4.64%) than hip (ICC = 0.91; CCC = 0.92; SEM = 3.4 cm; CV = 5.13%). In addition, sensitivity was higher for ankle (SWC = 0.28) than for the hip method (SWC = 0.40). The noise of the measurement (SEM) was higher than the worthwhile change (SWC), indicating lack of ability to detect meaningful changes. The agreement between methods was moderate (r_s = 0.84; ICC = 0.77; CCC = 0.25; SEM = 1.47 cm). Significant differences were detected between methods (-8.5 cm, p < 0.05, ES = 2.2). In conclusion, the location of the device affects the measurement by underestimating CMJ on ankle. Despite the acceptable consistency of the instrument, the results of the reliability analysis reveal a significant magnitude of both random and systematic error. As such, the Vmaxpro should not be considered a reliable instrument for measuring CMJ.

The validity and reliability of counter movement jump height measured with the Polar Vantage V2 sports watch

The purpose of the present study was to assess the validity and reliability of the jump height measured by the Polar Vantage V2 sports watch in comparison to a gold-standard force plate measurement. Fifteen healthy adults, seven female, age 20-42 years participated in the study and performed six sets of three CMJs, on two consecutive days. The participants wore the Polar Vantage V2 sports watch (Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland) whilst performing the jumps on two force plates (AMTI, Watertown, Massachusetts, United States). Jump height was on the one hand extracted directly from the watch ("leg recovery test") and on the other hand calculated by the flight time method with the force plate data. To assess validity, we calculated the mean absolute error, constructed Bland-Altman plots and applied an ordinary least squares regression analysis. To test for left-to-right and day-to-day reliability, we calculated Pearson and intraclass correlations. We found a mean error of ≈5% and a high correlation (r = 0.96; p < 0.001) for the jump height measured by the Polar Vantage V2 sports watch compared to the force plate measurement. The Bland-Altmann plot together with the ordinary least squares regression analysis showed no systematic bias between the methods with a minimal difference at a jump height of 30 cm. For reliability of left-to-right and day-to-day measurements, we found high Pearson and ICC correlations and no indications for systematic bias by Bland-Altmann analysis. The present study has demonstrated that the "leg recovery test" of the Polar Vantage V2 sports watch provide a valid and reliable measurement of the mean vertical jump height of three consecutive CMJs. For the first time the jump height of a CMJ can be measured solely by a sports watch without the need to attach additional sensors or measurement devices. Thus, the "leg recovery test" is an easy to administer, valid and reliable test, that can be used in future studies to measure CMJ-height in the field when lab-based assessments are unavailable or inconvenient. This opens new avenues for cross-sectional and longitudinal assessments of neuromuscular power of the lower extremities in a large number of participants.

Validity and Reliability of an Instrumented Treadmill with an Accelerometry System for Assessment of Spatio-Temporal Parameters and Impact Transmission

Running retraining programs focused on concurrent feedback of acceleration impacts have been demonstrated to be a good strategy to reduce running-related injuries (RRI), as well as to improve running economy and reduce acceleration impacts and injury running incidence. Traditionally, impacts have been registered by mean of accelerometers attached directly to the athletes, which is inaccessible to the entire population, because it requires laboratory conditions. This study investigated the validity and reliability of a new device integrated directly into the treadmill, compared to a traditional acceleration impact system. Thirty healthy athletes with no history of RRI were tested on two separate days over the instrumented treadmill (AccTrea) and simultaneously with an acceleration impact system attached to the participant (AccAthl). AccTrea was demonstrated to be a valid and reliable tool for measuring spatio-temporal parameters like step length (validity intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.94; reliability ICC = 0.92), step time (validity ICC = 0.95; reliability ICC = 0.96), and step frequency (validity ICC = 0.95; reliability ICC = 0.96) during running. Peak acceleration impact variables showed a high reliability for the left (reliability ICC = 0.88) and right leg (reliability ICC = 0.85), and peak impact asymmetry showed a modest validity (ICC = 0.55). These results indicated that the AccTrea system is a valid and reliable way to assess spatio-temporal variables, and a reliable tool for measuring acceleration impacts during running.