Countermovement Jump Inter-Limb Asymmetries in Collegiate Basketball Players

Aaron Heishman; Bryce Daub; Ryan Miller; Brady Brown; Eduardo Freitas; Michael Bemben

doi:10.3390/sports7050103

Countermovement Jump Inter-Limb Asymmetries in Collegiate Basketball Players

Sports (Basel). 2019 Apr 30;7(5):103. doi: 10.3390/sports7050103.

Authors

Aaron Heishman^{1

2}, Bryce Daub³, Ryan Miller⁴, Brady Brown^{5

6}, Eduardo Freitas⁷, Michael Bemben⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA. aaronheishman@ou.edu.
² Department of Athletics, Basketball Strength and Performance, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019 USA. aaronheishman@ou.edu.
³ Department of Athletics, Basketball Strength and Performance, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019 USA. bdaub@ou.edu.
⁴ Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA. ryanmiller1@ou.edu.
⁵ Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA. brownbrady3@ou.edu.
⁶ Department of Athletics, Basketball Strength and Performance, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019 USA. brownbrady3@ou.edu.
⁷ Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA. eduardofreitas@ou.edu.
⁸ Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA. mgbemben@ou.edu.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to establish the intrasession and intersession reliability of variables obtained from a force plate that was used to quantitate lower extremity inter-limb asymmetry during the bilateral countermovement jump (CMJ). Secondarily, a comparison was performed to determine the influence of the jump protocol CMJ with or without an arm swing (CMJ AS and CMJ NAS, respectively) on inter-limb asymmetries. Twenty-two collegiate basketball players performed three CMJ AS and three CMJ NAS on dual force platforms during two separate testing sessions. A majority of variables met the acceptable criterion of intersession and intrasession relative reliability (ICC > 0.700), while fewer than half met standards established for absolute reliability (CV < 10%). CMJ protocol appeared to influence asymmetries; Concentric Impulse-100 ms, Eccentric Braking Rate of Force Development, Eccentric Deceleration, and Force at Zero velocity were significantly different between jumping conditions (CMJAS versus CMJ NAS; p < 0.05). The present data establish the reliability and smallest worthwhile change of inter-limb asymmetries during the CMJ, while also identifying the influence of CMJ protocol on inter-limb asymmetries, which can be useful to practitioners and clinicians in order to effectively monitor changes associated with performance, injury risk, and return-to-play strategies.

Keywords: CMJ arm swing; CMJ without arm swing; athlete monitoring; athlete performance; bilateral countermovement jump; fatigue monitoring; reliability.