Optimize Performance and Recovery with the CMJ Procedures & Testing

The Countermovement Jump (CMJ) is the gold standard for reliably assessing lower-body power and is widely used in sports and clinical settings to evaluate dynamic performance. This movement, which involves a rapid downward flexion immediately followed by a maximal upward extension, is simple, practical, and a strong indicator of factors like sprint performance and maximal strength. While contact mats or accelerometers can measure CMJ performance, force plate jump tests are universally recognized as the gold standard for providing the most accurate and detailed measurements of neuromuscular performance.

This essential, free guide, “CMJ Procedures and Testing,” is designed to provide practitioners with the concise, precise information needed to implement and interpret the CMJ assessment effectively. It details the methodology, explains the technology, and demystifies the biomechanics of the jump’s various phases: from the initial Weighing Phase to the final Landing Phase. Furthermore, it emphasizes the use of objective data to track long-term adaptations, monitor fatigue, and make critical return to play (RTP) testing decisions.

Download this ebook to transform your practice by consistently using the CMJ force-time curve for precise progress tracking.

What You’ll Learn in This Ebook

🚀 Master the CMJ Protocol
Learn the standardized CMJ assessment methodology: critical warm-up tips, the importance of the akimbo position (hands on hips) if no arm swing is allowed, and the recommendation of 3 repetitions with 1 minute of rest for optimal data collection.

📉 Demystify CMJ Biomechanics and Phases
The ebook breaks down the jump into key phases, directly linked to the CMJ force-time curve:

• Weighing & Unweighting: The initial stability phase to calculate Body Weight (BW), followed by the acceleration into the downward movement.
• Braking (Eccentric): The muscle-tendon unit actively slows the body mass down, providing critical insight into deceleration capacity.
• Propulsive (Concentric): The forceful extension phase, where power is maximized to achieve vertical velocity.
• Flight & Landing: The airborne phase and the final controlled deceleration upon ground contact.

📈 Key Jump Performance Metrics (KPIs)
Gain clarity on essential jump performance metrics (KPIs) beyond jump height, enabling better patient profiling and long-term monitoring: Jump height, peak force/power, rate of force development (RFD), impulse metrics, etc.

⚖️ Asymmetry Analysis for RTP
Discover how dual force plates quantify inter-limb asymmetry. Learn why simply using the 10-15% threshold for return to play (RTP) testing is inadequate, and how to use the Coefficient of Variation (CV) to differentiate “true” asymmetry from measurement error.

Why Download This Ebook?

This guide is vital for physical therapists and coaches using CMJ assessment:

✅ Implement the Gold Standard: Master the accurate force plate jump test protocol.
✅ Inform RTP Decisions: Use objective KPIs and asymmetry analysis for optimal return to play (RTP) testing.
✅Quantify Performance: Utilize metrics like RFD, Peak Power, and Impulse to precisely track adaptations over time.

Download your free copy of “CMJ Procedures and Testing” to progress with precision.

Want to Learn More?

About K-Deltas
The K-Deltas are Kinvent’s force plates. Highly accurate and robust, K-Plates are essential for performing reliable CMJ assessment, accurately calculating jump performance metrics, and analyzing inter-limb asymmetry.

About Kinvent
Present in over 70 countries, Kinvent supports sports and health professionals in assessing, motivating, and tracking progress. Kinvent empowers clinicians to move from intuition to objective data, ensuring evidence-based decisions.