The overlooked risk in drop jump protocols: higher body weight as a catalyst for increased muscle damage.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether muscle damage induced by a drop jump (DJ) protocol differs based on individuals' body weight and body mass index (BMI) levels.

Methods: 50 participants were categorized into two groups: normal weight (BMI: 20.50 ± 1.84) and overweight (BMI: 26.34 ± 2.59). DJ protocol was implemented. Group comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test, and associations between variables were assessed via Spearman correlation.

Results: No significant difference was found in LDH-pre values between groups (p = .058). However, Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were significantly higher in the overweight group both immediately post-exercise (p = .044) and at 24 h post-exercise (p = .010). As significant baseline differences in Creatine Kinase-pre (CK) values were identified, group comparisons were based on percentage changes. CK change ratios were significantly greater in the overweight group across all comparisons: pre/post (p < .001), 24 h/post (p = .013), and 24 h/pre (p < .001). Body weight correlated positively with CK levels at all time points (pre: p = .001; post and 24 h: p < .001), as did BMI (pre: p = .037; post and 24 h: p < .001). Similar positive correlations were observed between body weight and LDH (pre: p = .009; post: p = .001; 24 h: p = .037), and between BMI and LDH (pre: p = .031; post: p < .001; 24 h: p = .022).

Conclusions: DJ protocol does not produce a uniform muscle damage response across individuals with different body weights and BMIs. Participants with higher body weight exhibited significantly greater enzymatic markers of muscle damage, suggesting that increased body weight and BMI may amplify mechanical load and physiological stress during plyometric activity.

Trial registration number: The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Registration Date: 2025-06-23, Identifier: NCT07046598).