Concurrent validity, inter-, and intrarater reliabilities of smart device based application for measuring vertical jump performance

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the concurrent validity and inter-and intra-rater reliabilities of smart device based application, against force platform-based portable device Wii balance board (WBB) measurements for the flight time and jump height during the vertical jump. Material and methods: Thirty participants (23.8 ±3.41 years) completed three vertical jumps, which were evaluated using WBB and application for smart device. To assess the concurrent validity, jump height and flight times were obtained from each device. Inter-and intra-rater reliabilities were determined by replicating data analysis of smart device based application recordings. Results: Flight time and jump height collected from smart device based application showed excellent agreement level with WBB (flight time and jump height: ICC [2,1]=0.972). However mean flight time and jump height from the smart device based application was significantly higher than WBB (mean difference: 0.006 sec, 0.745 cm, p < 0.05). Intra-rater sessions showed good level of agreement (flight time: ICC [2,1] = 0.967, jump height: ICC [2,1] = 0.974), and inter-rater session showed almost perfect reliability (flight time: ICC [2,1] = 0.985, jump height: ICC [2,1] = 0.987). Conclusions: Smart device-based applications could be used to replace pressure-based portable devices for clinical evaluations in post-injury rehabilitation as well as evaluating sports performance.