Contact Time, Jump Height, and Reactive Strength Index during Drop Jumps in Water, on Padded and Nonpadded Conditions

Twelve athletes, who routinely used plyometric exercises, performed drop jumps from 46 cm in water, on padded (5 cm thick wrestling mat), and unpadded conditions. GRF obtained via force platform and video analysis of markers placed along the leg were used to compare contact time (CT), flight time (FT), jump height calculated from flight time (JHFT) and video data (JHVIDEO), and reactive strength index (RSI) from both calculation techniques (RSIFT and RSIVIDEO). One-way Repeated Measures ANOVA indicated significant difference in CT but not FT. Two-way Repeated Measures ANOVA indicated differences in calculation technique for JH and RSI. Results indicate faults in current technique used to sample CT and JH when comparing plyometrics in and out of water.