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Updated: May 8, 2026
Non-invasive Assessments of Subjective and Objective Recovery Characteristics Following an Exhaustive Jump Protocol
Published on: June 8, 2017
Reference data for jumping mechanography in healthy children and adolescents aged 6-18 years
Z Sumnik1, J Matyskova, Z Hlavka
1Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Motol, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. zdenek.sumnik@lfmotol.cuni.cz
Objectives:
To present gender-specific pediatric normative data on the main parameters of muscle function assessed using jumping mechanography.
Methods:
The study population included 796 non-selected Caucasian children and adolescents (432 girls and 364 boys) aged 6-19 years recruited from 6 primary schools and 3 high schools. Maximum peak power (Pmax) was examined by a single two-legged jump, and maximum force (Fmax) was examined by a multiple one-legged hopping. All measurements were performed using a portable force platform (Leonardo Mechanograph, Novotec). Pmax, Pmax/mass, Fmax and Fmax/body weight were analyzed as the main outcome parameters. LMS method was used to generate age- and weight-specific reference smooth curves.
Results:
Both Pmax and Fmax were strongly dependent on age and weight in both genders (all p<0.001). In prepubertal children, there was no intergender difference in Pmax or Fmax. Both parameters steadily increased in boys and plateaued in girls aged >13 years. Whereas Pmax/mass was more dependent on anthropometric parameters, Fmax/BW remained nearly constant with respect to age and weight.
Conclusions:
These reference data are intended to assist clinicians in the assessment of muscle function by jumping mechanography in pediatric patients.
