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

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.