Concurrent Validity and Reliability of Two Mobile Phone Applications for Measuring Vertical Jumps in Amateur Handball Players

TL;DR

This study compares two mobile apps for measuring vertical jumps in handball players, finding both reliable but one more consistent.

Contribution

The study provides a direct comparison of My Jump Lab and VertVision for measuring vertical jumps in amateur handball players.

Findings

Both apps showed strong correlations and high reliability for measuring vertical jump height.

My Jump Lab had smaller inter-observer differences, indicating greater consistency.

Both apps overestimated jump height by 1.86% compared to a contact mat.

Abstract

Objectives: This study compares My Jump Lab and VertVision apps for measuring vertical jump height in handball players, assessing their validity and reliability. The research assesses both apps’ accuracy, particularly concerning higher jumps, where errors have been noted, aiming to determine the most reliable tool. The goal is to provide a direct comparison between apps, as well as confirm the apps’ validity and reliability for handball players. Methods: The present research is a transversal observational study. Twenty-seven amateur athletes performed five jumps on a contact mat with simultaneous recording by a smartphone with a high-speed camera. Pearson’s r, ICC, SEM, CV, and Bland–Altman plots were used to evaluate discrepancies and determine accuracy. Results: Pearson correlation showed strong relationships, with ICC values between 0.993 and 0.998. Both apps overestimated jump height by 1.86% compared to the platform. Bland–Altman plots indicated minimal differences between observers, confirming high validity and reliability for CMJ measurement. Both apps demonstrated very high concurrent validity (r > 0.9) and reliability, with ICC values near 1 and CV below 5%. My Jump Lab exhibited smaller inter-observer differences, indicating greater consistency. Conclusions: The ease of use, affordability, and portability make both apps valuable for performance monitoring, training, and injury recovery. While both demonstrated good validity and reliability, My Jump Lab proved more consistent in jump comparisons. These tools extend beyond sports, supporting physiotherapy assessments and athletic training across diverse populations.

Figures