Intra- and interrater reliability of subjective assessment of the drop vertical jump and tuck jump in youth athletes

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate intra- and interrater reliability of the subjective assessments of filmed DVJ and TJA in youth male and female soccer players and to compare subjective assessment of the DVJ with two-dimensional movement analysis.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Participants: 115 soccer players (66 boys, 49 girls) mean age 14 ± 1 (range 13-16) years.

Main outcome measures: Knee control during landing phase of DVJ was assessed using a 3-graded scoring scale. TJA was assessed according to ten criteria using a dichotomous grading scale. Subjective assessment of DVJ was compared with calculation of normalized knee separation distance (NKSD).

Results: Intrarater reliability for DVJ was substantial to almost perfect (kappa 0.72 rater 1; 0.85 rater 2). Interrater reliability was substantial to almost perfect (kappa from 0.68 to 0.83). The TJA total score intrarater reliability was ICC 0.59 for rater 1 and 0.90 for rater 2. Interrater reliability ranged from ICC 0.51 to 0.60. There were between-group differences in mean NKSD during DVJ for players rated as 0, 1 and 2, but within-group variability was large.

Conclusion: Assessment of DVJ and TJA in youth athletes was rater dependent. Players with subjectively assessed reduced or poor knee control had smaller normalized knee separation distance in DVJ.

Keywords: Adolescents; Anterior cruciate ligament injury; Jump-landing technique; Soccer; Test-retest reliability.