Correlation of single leg vertical jump, single leg hop for distance, and single leg hop for time

Abstract

Objectives To determine the correlation among three functional tests: single leg vertical jump (SLVJ), single leg hop for distance (SLHD), and single leg hop for time (SLHT). Design Prospective correlational investigation. Setting University research laboratory. Participants Forty healthy men ( n = 19) and women ( n = 21) between the ages of 18 and 30 (23.9 ± 2.0 years). Main outcome measures SLVJ was measured using the Vertec. SLHD was measured using a standard tape measure. SLHT was measured over a 10-m course using a standard stopwatch. Results The strongest correlation was between SLHT and SLHD, −0.89 and −0.89 for dominant and non-dominant lower extremities (LE), respectively. The weakest pairwise correlation was between SLVJ and SLHT, −0.71 and −0.63 for dominant and non-dominant LE, respectively. The correlation between SLVJ and SLHD was 0.74 and 0.71 for dominant and non-dominant LE, respectively. Conclusion There is a strong correlation between SLHT and SLHD, suggesting that each test measures similar constructs of function, while the modest correlation between SLVJ and SLHT suggest these two tests do not measure the same functional components, and could be paired as outcome measures for the clinical assessment of lower extremity function.