The Effect of Foot Placement on Vertical Jump Performance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare vertical jump height in normal feet position (15? external rotation) (N), 15? internal rotation (parallel feet position) (par), 30? internal rotation (IR) and free jumping position (F). This pre-experimental study was performed on 118 volunteers of both sexes who aged between 19 and 27. The Sargent protocol was used to measure the height of jumps. The first three jumps were performed from (F) and other trials were randomly assigned. One-way ANOVA and Duncan's post hoc tests were used to analyze the data. The jumping test results for males and females were as follows respectively: (F): 55.68±6.246 and 37.44± 5.160, (Par): 54.41± 5.934 and 37.05± 4.847, (N): 54.05± 6.036 and 36.88 ±5.093, (IR): 52.97±5.887 and 36.27±5.075 (cm). Although there was no significant difference in the height of jump for different foot placements (?? 0.05), the data of male and female jumps tends to the same direction from high to low ((F)<(Par)>(N)>(IR)). The difference of jump heights at different foot placements may become significant and relevant if the number of subjects increase or training in a specific position exists. The results showed that some foot placements like (Par) position increase jumping results without any training. The result of (F) jumping position was not reliable due to its high deviation.