Validation of a Rhythmic Jumping Task for the Assessment of Upper-Lower Limb Coordination: Evidence from High-Level...

Background: A rhythmic jumping task that does not require specialized equipment may represent a simple method to assess upper-lower-limb coordination in athletes. Previous studies have been limited to groups with relatively low coordination ability; thus, whether task performance reflects the ability level or remains reproducible over time is unclear. This study determined whether the rhythmic jumping task reflects coordination levels in high-level performers, verified its generalizability as an assessment tool, and evaluated its reproducibility over time. Methods: Twenty-eight female high school volleyball players who routinely engaged in coordination training were enrolled, and performed six rhythmic jumping tasks identical to those used in a previous study. Performance was evaluated using three indices: complete performance rate (successful completion of all four series), success rate of at least one series, and average number of successful series. Twelve participants were retested 1 year later to examine reproducibility. Results: The high-level group demonstrated an overall superior performance compared to the low-level group from a previous study. Easier conditions yielded higher success rates, whereas more difficult conditions yielded lower success rates. Retest results demonstrated reproducible performance patterns over time. Conclusions: The rhythmic jumping task appropriately reflected coordination ability: high-level performers outperformed low-level performers. The task maintained a consistent difficulty order and reproducible performance across groups and over time, supporting its validity and generalizability as a practical and reliable tool to assess upper- and lower-limb coordination in applied athletic settings and provides a foundation for its further refinement and application as a standardized coordination assessment method.