New Study on the Validity of Jump Height Measured with Polar Vantage V2

A vertical jump can indicate your readiness for a workout. The higher you jump, the more power your leg muscles can supply, and therefore, the more prepared your muscles are for exercise. Common sense says so, and research, too. Studies show that vertical jump without additional resistance is the best method to determine peak power that leg muscles can supply. (1)  

With this premise, we developed the Leg Recovery Test feature that we first introduced with Polar Vantage V2. The test estimates your readiness for high-intensity training by measuring vertical jump height. If your vertical jump height has diminished from the 28-day average, the test results will recommend alternatives to high-intensity training. 

For years, athletes have used this method to assess recovery, but it always required special equipment. For the first time ever, Polar’s Leg Recovery Test allowed the measurement of vertical jump height simply by using a wearable device.  

Now, a recent study led by Professor Markus Gruber in Konstanz, Germany has further validated the use of wearables and the Leg Recovery Test to measure vertical jump height. According to the research, Polar’s Leg recovery test can assess vertical jump height with mean error of 5% (2). The study concludes that “For the first time the jump height of a CMJ (countermovement jump) can be measured solely by a sports watch without the need to attach additional sensors or measurement devices. Thus, the “leg recovery test” is an easy to administer, valid and reliable test, that can be used in future studies to measure CMJ-height in the field when lab-based assessments are unavailable or inconvenient.”   

You can read the whole study at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.1013360/full 

Want to find out more about Leg Recovery Test? Read our feature description and the science behind it.

References: 

1. Jaric, Slobodan, and Goran Markovic. 2013. “Body Mass Maximizes Power Output in Human Jumping: A Strength-Independent Optimum Loading Behavior.” European Journal of Applied Physiology 113 (12): 2913–23. 

2. Gruber, Markus, Jussi Peltonen, Julia Bartsch, and Philipp Barzyk. 2022. “The Validity and Reliability of Counter Movement Jump Height Measured with the Polar Vantage V2 Sports Watch.” Frontiers in Sports and Active Living https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.1013360. 

Please note that the information provided in the Polar Blog articles cannot replace individual advice from health professionals. Please consult your physician before starting a new fitness program.