Reliability and validity of a wireless microelectromechanicals based system (keimove™) for measuring vertical jumping...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science and Biomechanics
• Human Movement Analysis
• Wearable Technology in Sports

Background:

• Accurate measurement of jump performance is crucial for athlete assessment and training.
• Traditional methods for measuring counter-movement jump (CMJ) parameters can be cumbersome or expensive.
• Microelectromechanical systems (MEMs) offer potential for portable and cost-effective performance monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate and assess the reliability of the Keimove™ MEMs-based system for measuring CMJ flight time and takeoff velocity.
• To compare Keimove™ measurements against criterion reference methods, including high-speed cameras and force platforms.

Main Methods:

• Thirty professional soccer players performed three counter-movement jumps (CMJs).
• The Keimove™ system was simultaneously compared with a high-speed camera (HSC) and a force platform synchronized with a linear position transducer (FP+LPT).
• Flight time and takeoff velocity were recorded by all systems for analysis.

Main Results:

• High Pearson correlation coefficients (r = 0.99) were found for flight time between Keimove™ and criterion methods (HSC, FP+LPT).
• Significant, though lower, correlations were observed for takeoff velocity between Keimove™ and FP+LPT.
• No significant differences in mean values for flight time and takeoff velocity were found across the devices; high reliability (ICC: 0.92-0.97) was demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• The Keimove™ system is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring flight time and takeoff velocity during CMJ testing.
• This MEMs-based system provides a portable and cost-effective alternative for assessing CMJ performance.
• The Keimove™ system's wireless design and lumbar attachment offer practical advantages for athletes.