{"id":2542,"date":"2016-07-10T08:40:41","date_gmt":"2016-07-09T22:40:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scienceforsport.com\/?p=2542"},"modified":"2025-03-17T13:26:10","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T13:26:10","slug":"countermovement-jump-cmj","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scienceforsport.com\/countermovement-jump-cmj\/","title":{"rendered":"Countermovement Jump (CMJ)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Contents of Article<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Summary<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. What is the countermovement jump (CMJ)?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Who should use the countermovement jump test?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. How do you conduct the countermovement jump test?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. How do you calculate countermovement jump performance?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. What is the countermovement jump scoring system?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Considerations for using the countermovement jump test<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Is the countermovement jump test valid and reliable?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Can the CMJ manage and assess fatigue?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Tips for using countermovement jump tests<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. References<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. About the Author<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The countermovement jump (CMJ) is a simple, practical, valid, and very reliable<\/a> measure of lower-body power. As a consequence, it is no surprise this has become a cornerstone test for many strength and conditioning coaches <\/a>and sports scientists. The CMJ has been shown to be the most reliable measure of lower-body power compared to other jump tests. Furthermore, the CMJ has been shown to have relationships with sprint performances, one-repetition maximum (1RM)<\/a> maximal strength, and explosive-strength tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This suggests that performances in the CMJ are linked with maximal speed, maximal strength, and explosive strength. When the CMJ is performed using the arm swing, performances can be \u2265 10 % higher than when they include no arm swing. Contact mats, force platforms, accelerometers, high-speed cameras, and infrared platforms have all been shown to provide a valid and reliable<\/a> measure of CMJ performance \u2013 though force platforms are considered as the \u2018gold standard\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This test is not to be confused with the Abalakov Jump test, or any of the Jump-and-Reach tests such as the Sargent Jump test, the Vertical Power Jump, or the Vertical Jump test<\/a> (i.e. Vertec) (1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    What is the countermovement jump (CMJ)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The countermovement jump (CMJ) is primarily used to measure an athlete\u2019s explosive lower-body power (2, 3), and has become one of the most frequently used tests by coaches and researchers to indirectly measure power in the lower limbs (4). This test can be conducted either with or without the use of the arm swing. Performing the CMJ with an arm-swing action has been shown to increase performance by 10% or more (5-9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The CMJ has been measured using contact mats (4, 10-13), force platforms (4, 11, 14-16), infrared platforms (15, 17, 18), accelerometers or linear position transducers (13, 19) and even video analysis (4, 12, 16, 20), though force platforms are often considered as the \u2018gold-standard\u2019 for test accuracy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The present issue with measuring the CMJ is the cost and impracticality of some of the aforementioned equipment. Interestingly however, one recent study has demonstrated that CMJ can be accurately measured using a relatively inexpensive high-speed camera (Casio Exilim FH-25 camera) and the KineJump software (20).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n