Vertical jump performance in elite athletes: A study of sex- and sport-based differences
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24310/riccafd.14.3.2025.22034Keywords:
sport performance, jump test, sex, return-to-play, physical measuremenAbstract
This study aimed to establish reference values for vertical jump tests in male and female high-performance athletes, as well as to identify differences between sports disciplines. A total of 1423 jumps (male: 891; female: 532) from 444 elite athletes (male: 258; female: 186) across 15 different sports were analyzed, divided into five categories: team sports, combat sports, racket sports, endurance sports, and fencing. The vertical jumps assessed included the countermovement jump (CMJ), Abalakov jump (ABK), squat jump (SJ), and drop jump (DJ). The results showed significant differences in vertical jump heights across tests for both male and female athletes. In males, the ABK produced the highest jumps (MD: 5.517 to 8.744 cm), followed by the CMJ (MD: 3.227 cm), with no significant difference between SJ and DJ (p=1; MD: 0.367 cm). Among sports disciplines, endurance athletes had the lowest jump heights in CMJ, SJ, ABK, and DJ compared to combat, racket, fencing, and team sports. Team sports athletes generally had the highest values. In females, the ABK also yielded the highest jumps (MD: 3.617 to 5.686 cm), followed by the CMJ (MD: 2.069 cm). No significant differences were found between SJ-DJ (p=0.185; MD= -1.168 cm) or CMJ-DJ (p=0.567; MD: 0.901 cm). Endurance athletes showed the lowest jump heights in all tests compared to other disciplines, particularly team sports athletes, who demonstrated the highest values in CMJ, ABK, and DJ. Differences in reactive strength index (RSI) were also noted, with team sports outperforming combat and endurance sports in both sexes.
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