Jump tests can help predict athlete injury risk

ACL injuries are among the most severe for competitive athletes, often sidelining them for a year or more. A new study from Yale Sports Medicine suggests that a quick vertical jump test using force plate technology could identify at-risk athletes before an injury occurs. This technology, which has become more accessible in athletic training departments and clinics, improves clinical guidance during recovery and return-to-sport decisions.

Traditional evaluation tools, like the landing error scoring system and Y-balance test, are time-consuming and require expert staff, making them challenging for sports programs with limited resources. The countermovement jump, a simple test currently used to monitor power and fatigue, could provide a faster and simpler alternative.

This test records thousands of data points per second, mapping an athlete's power production, leg symmetry, and landing impact. By comparing results from the force plate jump alongside traditional screenings, researchers found a direct correlation between poor performance on movement tests and higher landing stiffness on the force plates.

Stiff landings increase the risk of ACL injuries by forcing the shock of landing directly into bones and joints. Athletes who scored poorly on traditional tests also showed a compounding effect of risk factors, leading to more chaotic and asymmetrical force plate jump data. Yale researchers are now expanding the use of force plates in surgeons' offices to guide ACL injury prevention and return-to-sport decisions, using the countermovement jump in an office setting to gather objective, immediate feedback on the recovery of the surgically repaired knee.