The effect of somatic build on single-leg vertical jump performance in winter sport athletes

Abstract

Aim of the study. The vertical jump test in winter sports is most often performed with both feet. In competitive sports, there is a need to determine parameters separately for each lower limb. This is related to the sport practiced and anatomical and functional asymmetry. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of the somatic build of winter sports athletes on single-leg countermovement jump (CMJ) performance. Material and methods. The study group consisted of winter sports athletes, candidates for the high school in the Complex of Sports Championship Schools in Zakopane (ZSMS). The study was conducted in May 2019, with 121 participants including 56 girls (age: 13.98±1.76) and 65 boys (age: 13.89±2.09). Body build was determined based on 40 measurements of somatic characteristics which described body length and width, skeletal system mass, muscularity, body mass, and body fat. CMJ measurement was performed using the portable measurement system OptoJump. The relationships between somatic characteristics and CMJ results were determined using backward stepwise multiple regression analysis, whereas differences between the limbs were established using analysis of variance. Results. Analysis of variance did not confirm statistically significant differences between CMJ results for the right (RLL) and left (LLL) lower limbs. In the regression model for CMJ power, the coefficient of determination in girls was R2=33.53% for RLL and R2=43.69% for LLL. In boys, the range of explained total variance was higher with R2=39.64% for RLL and R2=61.36% for LLL. In the regression model for CMJ jump height, the coefficient of determination in girls was R2=44.63% for RLL and R2=38.53% for LLL. In boys, it was similar for both limbs (RLL: R2=57.36%; LLL: R2=58.53%) Conclusions. The power and height of CMJ obtained by both girls and boys did not confirm functional asymmetry. The study found significant relationships between CMJ results and athletes’ somatic build. However, body components were the most frequent explanatory variables in the regression models.