Validity and Reliability of the Accelerometer for Assessing Jump Performance Variables: Review Study

Since physical performance is one of the important parts of health, proper evaluation of people's performance is so much important, as it helps rehabilitation team to choose the best methods to improve performance. Involving all the muscles and joints, jumping is an activity used to evaluate performance. The accelerometer is an instrument that has recently been considered in the field of performance evaluation for some reasons like being economical, accessible, and the ability to replace expensive tools in the health system. This article reviews some studies that use accelerometer to evaluate performance of the neuromuscular system.

Method and Materials: 

Keywords were searched in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases to find studies on the reliability and validity of accelerometers in jump performance from 2010 to January 2024.

In calculating most variables including jump height, flight time, contact time, stiffness, force, power, and reactive strength index of countermovement, squat, and drop jumps, studies have revealed high validity and reliability for this device. In calculating peak power and peak velocity, accelerometer has low validity and reliability, though.

Under the ground of the fact that accelerometer is a valid and reliable instrument in evaluating most jump performance variables, it may be counted as a useful instrument. Rehabilitation team, physical medicine, and sports medicine specialists would use this device to evaluate musculoskeletal system performance; Therefore, they will be able to adjust, modify, and finally improve the rehabilitation program for patients or athletes and thus promote health in society.