Paper on Explosive Strength: Measuring Power Through the Vertical Jump Test

The ability of a person to extract maximal pressure individually in the shortest time possible is referred to as explosive strength (Keller et al, 2020). The vertical jump test measures the explosive power of the lower limb by taking measurements of the length that an individual can jump (Gross & Lüthy, 2020). The individual, while standing far from the wall, jumps perpendicularly as high as he can with the help of both their hands and legs to protect the body in the upward direction. The individual then will try to have a touch of the wall at the peak point of their jump (Gross & Lüthy, 2020). Most athletes that use the Vertical Jump Test are those in the sports categories like the high jump, basketball, netball, and volleyball. However, many other sports use the test to measure the ability of vertical jumping of their players during physical exercises (Gross & Lüthy, 2020). The test can show the strength of the athletes’ muscles and the possibility of bursting (Gross & Lüthy, 2020). This paper discusses how explosive strength can be achieved in an athlete using the Vertical Jump Test, equipment required and the process of performing the test.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

This test evaluates the volatile strength of the lower limb by recording the height that the individual can jump (Gross & Lüthy, 2020). There is equipment that is used to make the test complete and accurate. They include; measuring tape, a marked wall (the measuring tape will measure the distances between the marked wall), chalk that is used to mark the wall, and charts to check burst fitness (Gross & Lüthy, 2020). The steps to access the explosive power are only four; first, the athlete will put their legs close to a wall and have their hands stretched upwards. Second, the athlete will mark the wall with their fingertip. In the third step, the athlete will have to squat, then jump as high as possible and mark the highest point with the tip of their fingers, and the distance between will be measured. In the fourth and last stage, the burst fitness of the athlete will be checked by the use of charts (Gross & Lüthy, 2020). The highest vertical jump ever recorded was by Gerald Sensabaugh, an American football athlete at 46 inches or 1.17m (Gross & Lüthy, 2020).

References

Gross, M., & Lüthy, F. (2020). Anaerobic Power Assessment in Athletes: are Cycling and Vertical Jump Tests interchangeable? Sports, 8(5), 60. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/8/5/60

Keller, S., Koob, A., Corak, D., von Schöning, V., & Born, D. P. (2020). How to improve change-of-direction Speed in Junior Team Sport Athletes—Horizontal, Vertical, Maximal, or Explosive Strength Training? The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 34(2), 473-482. https://cdn.journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Fulltext/2020/02000/How_to_Improve_Change_of_Direction_Speed_in_Junior.23.aspx