Reliability of the free arm vertical jump test (Abalakov) in protocol applications: A proposal for volleyball athletes

Abstract

The specificity of a test is a fundamental aspect of its applicability in performance assessment protocols. In evaluating vertical jump performance, the hands-on-hips (akimbo) position is commonly employed due to its superior standardization. However, there is compelling evidence supporting the need for testing approaches tailored to the specific context of volleyball, particularly through the investigation of flexibility via assisted passive stretching exercises targeting the agonist and antagonist muscles of the lower limbs. Such protocols should more closely mirror the actual performance demands encountered by athletes in this sport. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the countermovement jump with free arm swing (Abalakov jump) in comparison to the countermovement jump with hands fixed on the hips (Akimbo jump) among amateur male volleyball players. Very strong and statistically significant correlations (r > 0.9; p < 0.01) were observed between the two protocols across all analyzed conditions. Although the incorporation of arm swing in the Abalakov protocol yielded higher absolute jump heights (approximately 7–9 cm greater than those in the Akimbo protocol), the relative response patterns remained proportional. This consistency underscores the measurement stability between the protocols, even following diverse muscular interventions. Although the incorporation of arm swing in the Abalakov jump elevated absolute performance values, the athletes' response patterns remained proportional and reliable for evaluating physiological interventions, without undermining data integrity. These findings underscore the need for further discourse on protocol selection in functional assessments of vertical jump performance, with a view to bridging the divide between laboratory testing procedures and the practical demands encountered by athletes in competitive sports environments.