Purpose of test:
To assess the client’s explosive power in a vertical direction (Reiman & Manske, 2009).
Equipment required:
• Dedicated proprietary device if available; if not:-
o Ladder
o Wall with high ceiling
o Landing with flat, nonslip surface
o Chalk.
(Reiman & Manske, 2009)
Test procedure:
1.Position the client so that he or she is standing with equal weight on bilateral lower
extremities, approximately shoulder-width apart.
2.Have the client push back the highest reachable marker on the dedicated proprietary
device to mark the zero starting position. If you are not using the using the dedicated
proprietary device, have the client hold a piece of chalk in the hand closest to the wall on
the side of measurement, and instruct him or her to reach as high as possible and make a
mark on the wall for the zero starting position.
3.Record the mark as the zero starting position.
4.For the jump, you can choose from various opposite hand positions (hand on hip or
behind back, or free to use during the jump); however, ensure that the hand position
remains constant during pre- and post-testing.
5.Instruct the client not to move the feet and to flex at the knee, hip and ankle, then to
jump, pushing back the highest reachable marker on the dedicated proprietary device. If
not using the dedicated proprietary device, instruct the client not to move the feet and
to flex at the knee, hip and ankle, then to jump and place a second chalk mark as high as
possible on the wall.
6.Note that reasons for disqualification during testing include any irregularity in placement
of the first mark on the wall (e.g. not having the feet flat) and taking a step prior to
jumping.
7.If you are using the dedicated proprietary device, the client’s score is the vertical distance
between the zero starting position and the highest reachable marker. If not using the
dedicated proprietary device, the client’s score is the vertical distance between the two
chalk marks. Record the best of three trials to the nearest 0.5 inch (1.25 cm)
(Seminick, 1994 & Chu, 1996, as cited in Reiman & Manske, 2009).
