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The validity and reliability of an iPhone app for measuring vertical jump performance
Carlos Balsalobre-Fernández1, Mark Glaister, Richard Anthony Lockey
1a Department of Physical Education, Sport and Human Movement , Autonomous University of Madrid , Madrid , Spain.
Journal of Sports Sciences
|January 3, 2015
Summary
An iPhone app called My Jump accurately measures vertical jump performance. This study found the app reliable and valid for assessing countermovement jump height, offering an easy-to-use alternative to force platforms.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Biomechanical Analysis
- Mobile Health Technology
Background:
- Vertical jump performance is a key indicator in many sports.
- Accurate measurement of jump height is crucial for training and assessment.
- Traditional methods like force platforms can be expensive and less accessible.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the concurrent validity and reliability of the My Jump iPhone app.
- To compare the app's vertical jump measurements against a gold-standard force platform.
- To determine if the My Jump app can accurately assess countermovement jump (CMJ) height.
Main Methods:
- Twenty healthy, recreationally active men performed five maximal countermovement jumps.
- Jump height was measured simultaneously using a force platform (time in air) and the My Jump iPhone app.
- Statistical analyses included intraclass correlation coefficient, Pearson's r, Cronbach's alpha, coefficient of variation, and Bland-Altman plots.
Main Results:
- The My Jump app demonstrated almost perfect agreement with the force platform for CMJ height (ICC = 0.997).
- Bland-Altman analysis showed minimal bias (1.1 ± 0.5 cm) between the two methods.
- The app exhibited good validity (r = 0.995) when compared to the force platform's measurements.
Conclusions:
- The My Jump iPhone app provides an accurate and reliable method for measuring vertical jump height.
- This mobile application offers a practical and accessible tool for assessing countermovement jump performance.
- The findings support the use of the My Jump app in sports science and training settings.
