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Jump Assessments on Force Plates Do Not Determine Musculoskeletal Injury Risk in Active-Duty Air Force Personnel
Justin J Merrigan1,2, Nicole Ray1,3, Kristyn Barrett1,3,4
1Strong Lab, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Fairborn, Upper Sandusky, Ohio.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Jump assessments on force plates show links to musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) risk in Air Force personnel. However, these tests alone cannot accurately predict MSKI, though low performance may indicate a need for training.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
- Military Health
Background:
- Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKI) are a significant concern in active-duty military populations.
- Jump performance assessments using force plates are increasingly explored as potential predictors of MSKI risk.
- Previous injuries are a known risk factor for future MSKI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between jump performance metrics and lower extremity MSKI risk in active-duty Air Force personnel.
- To determine if jump assessments on force plates can accurately classify individuals at risk for MSKI.
Main Methods:
- 963 active-duty Air Force members underwent various jump assessments (ASCMJ, CMJ, BRHT, LCMJ, DJ) on force plates.
- Lower extremity MSKI occurrences were monitored over a 6-month period.
- Logistic regression and Chi-square analyses were used to assess the relationship between jump performance, previous injury, and MSKI.
Main Results:
- Individuals sustaining MSKI exhibited lower jump heights and reactive strength indexes, and greater peak landing forces compared to the No-MSKI group.
- Previous injury was strongly associated with a higher likelihood of sustaining MSKI (30.68% vs. 6.06%).
- While higher jump performance correlated with lower MSKI odds, no jump assessment model accurately classified MSKI risk; performance below the 25th percentile indicated elevated risk.
Conclusions:
- Force plate jump assessments demonstrate an association with MSKI risk but are not effective standalone tools for accurate risk classification in this population.
- Previous injury status is a significant predictor of future MSKI.
- Jump performance below the 25th percentile may identify individuals who could benefit from targeted injury prevention training.
