ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Vertical jump tests can be used as estimators of muscular power, physical capacity, motor development and functional capacity. The ability to jump can be analyzed with different methods, including the use of inertial sensors.
Objective:
To describe and analyze kinematic characteristics using the inertial sensor integrated into the iPhone 4S® and jump contact mat variables in the squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests, and to determine the interaction between kinetic and kinematic variables.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 27 healthy young adults. The primary outcome measures were linear acceleration, flight time, contact time, jump height and dynamometry of the knee extensors. Spearman's rho was used to investigate the correlation between variables. The Mann–Whitney U rank-sum test was used for the analysis of intergender variance.
Results:
The greatest difference between groups (gender) was in the dynamometry variables (p<0.001) and contact mat variables (p<0.001). Between the jump tests, the greatest difference between groups (gender) was in the CMJ test (p<0.001).
Conclusion:
The inertial sensor embedded in the smartphone demonstrated a correlation with the jump mat and the dynamometry. Finally, the higher kinetic and kinematic scores observed in the jumps performed by male participants than in those performed by female participants suggest that they can be used to better characterize their jumping profile. Level of Evidence IV; Diagnostic Studies - Investigating a Diagnostic Test.
Keywords:
Acceleration; Biomechanical Phenomena; Athletic Performance