Investigation of Force Plate Jump Testing Metrics Relevant to Return to Play Decision Making in Basketball Athletes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.
Christopher S Hart, Elizabeth S Chumanov
PMID 40620403WHAT IT FOUND
Basketball players with weaker quadriceps showed significant jump asymmetries in double-leg and repeated hop tests, but not in single-leg countermovement jumps.
Relying on one jump type misses deficits. Use a battery of tests and check variability, not just a 90% symmetry score.
Key findings
01Athletes with quadriceps strength below 90% symmetry had significant asymmetries in double-leg countermovement jump metrics (Eccentric RFD, Concentric Impulse, Contact Time, Peak Take-Off Force) compared to those above 90%.
02Athletes with quadriceps strength below 90% symmetry had significant asymmetries in single-leg repeated hop metrics (Flight Time:Contact Time, Jump Height) compared to those above 90%.
03No significant differences in symmetry scores were found between strength groups during single-leg countermovement jumps.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study is retrospective, which increases the risk of selection bias and relies on the accuracy of medical records. The exact timeline of rehabilitation completion and return-to-sport rates were unknown, and testing occurred at varying postoperative times (average 8.3 to 9.6 months). The sample included only male athletes from a single institution, limiting generalizability to female athletes or other populations. There was no standardized rehabilitation protocol, so differences in training could have influenced results. The study compared groups based on quadriceps strength rather than comparing to healthy uninjured controls, which may affect how 'asymmetry' is interpreted relative to normal performance.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a single-leg countermovement jump is sufficient to detect lower limb asymmetry in basketball athletes returning to sport. This study found no significant differences in single-leg countermovement jump symmetry between athletes with strong and weak quadriceps, whereas double-leg and repeated hop tasks did show differences. Clearing an athlete based only on the single-leg task could miss persistent deficits.