THE ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN COUNTERMOVEMENT VERTICAL JUMP DISPLACEMENT AND ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASURES IN COLLEGE AGED STUDENTS

Peter J. Chomentowski III, Christopher A. Perry, Louisa A. Summers, Matthew J. Sabin, Tracy H. Spigelman, Joel Comier, Michele Kuzma, Codie Monhollen, James M. Larkin

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the associations between vertical jump height and anthropometric characteristics in non-athlete college students. Participants: College students (n = 170) aged 19.1 ± 1.6 years participated in a study measuring countermovement vertical jumps and several anthropometric variables. Outcome measures: Anthropometric variables were recorded: age, height, body weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, fat free mass, and body surface area. Vertical jump was assessed using a VERTEC jump system. Results: Vertical jump height was significantly different between gender and group classification by body fat (p < .001). Body fat percentage displayed strong negative correlations (r = -.624, p < .001) and fat-free mass displayed strong positive (r = .667, p < .001) correlations with vertical jump for all the subjects. Both of these findings were consistent across group categorizations (body fat percent and body mass index) with body fat percent yielding the strongest correlations with jump performance. Conclusion: This study suggests body fat percentage and fat-free mass have strong associations with vertical jump height in non-athlete college aged students.

Pages: 136 - 142