Consecutive Countermovement Jump Test
A practical, valid, and reliable measure of lower-body power.
What is a consecutive countermovement jump test?
Consecutive countermovement jump (CCMJ) testing is the most reliable measure of lower-body power compared to other popular jump tests such as the squat jump, Abalakow’s jump, Sargent jump, standing long and the standing triple jump. The CCMJ test has also been directly linked with 0-30m sprint performances and relative strength during dynamic 1RM squats and power clean. A practitioner can perform the CCMJ test to evaluate the following areas of functional movement performance:
Muscle strength reserves and power
Propulsive and absorptive strategies with foot-ground interactions
Degree of inter-limb asymmetry for all of the above components of movement performance
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Tip: Instruct the person you're collecting data on that this test aims to evaluate their ability to produce power in their lower body. They should perform five consecutive countermovement jumps, while trying to jump as high as they can and spending as little time on the ground as they can - maintaining good form at the same time.
1. Tester navigates to the measure page of the Plantiga web application and selects the CCMJ Test.
2. Tester selects the subject that will be performing the activity. Address any warnings that may come up once they have been selected.
3. Tester instructs the subject to stand still with hands on hips and feet planted shoulder width apart, firmly on the ground.
4. Tester starts the Consecutive Countermovement Jump Test on the plantiga.io web application, and the subject remains still as the stopwatch counts down from 5.
5. Subject will perform 5 Consecutive Countermovement Jumps.
6. Once all jumps have been performed, the tester instructs the subject to stop and plant their feet firmly on the ground.
7. The tester stops the stopwatch once still, and the subject remains still for 5 seconds.
8. Tester fills out optional information (RPE, Pain, Floor type...) and saves the Consecutive Countermovement Jump Test.
What does Plantiga measure?
Jump height (max): the highest jump height achieved from all successive CCMJs during a single test.
Low CCMJ heights indicate poor muscle strength reserves.
Reactive strength index (RSI): The ratio between the height jumped and the average ground contact time of feet during a successive jump. It is a reliable indicator of their strength and explosive power capabilities.
An individual with a high RSI during the CCMJ jump (>5.0) can either jump higher and have shorter ground contact time or both, in comparison to low RSI (<0.25) jumpers.
Low CCMJ RSI scores and average cyclic jump RSI scores may indicate poor thigh musculature reactive strength capabilities.
Vertical take-off acceleration (VTA) asymmetry: A comparison of how quickly the left vs. right foot swings immediately after toe-off between jumps.
High VTA asymmetry (> 10%) occurs when the opposite lower limb musculature and surrounding tissues are fatigued, weak, or experiencing pain.
Vertical landing acceleration (VLA) asymmetry: A comparison of the ability of the left vs. right to absorb impact when the foot lands on the ground between successive jumps.
High VLA asymmetry (> 10%) occurs when landing more abruptly on one limb than the other.
How can my athletes benefit from CCMJ testing with Plantiga?
To simplify data interpretation and provide actionable movement insights to our users for better rehabilitation and performance outcomes, we’ve created instant and customizable activity reporting tools that can be accessed and shared within minutes.
