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Prediction of individual optimal drop height in drop jump from anthropometric and strength variables
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  • Published: 31 March 2026

Prediction of individual optimal drop height in drop jump from anthropometric and strength variables

  • Yongmin Xie1,
  • Fan Peng1,
  • Xinyu Pan1 &
  • …
  • Qinchang Sun1 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

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We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Health care
  • Medical research
  • Physiology
  • Risk factors

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the associations between individual optimal drop height (ODH), as determined by the reactive strength index (RSI) method, and selected anthropometric and strength parameters, and to develop a prediction model for ODH based on these variables. A total of 49 participants were recruited, and measurements included body height, body mass, maximal muscle strength (MSmax), lower limb stiffness, reactive strength ratio (RSR), countermovement jump (CMJ) height, and ODH. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between ODH and the assessed variables. A multiple linear regression model was constructed in a stepwise manner to predict individual ODH. Significant correlations were observed between ODH and relative MSmax (r = 0.827, P < 0.001), RSR (r = 0.703, P < 0.001), body mass (r = -0.481, P < 0.01), body height (r = -0.430, P < 0.01), and CMJ height (r = 0.487, P < 0.01). Relative MSmax, CMJ height and RSR collectively explained 78.4% of the variance in ODH (R2 = 0.784). The final prediction equation was: ODH = -45.602+31.027*relative MSmax +0.548*CMJ height +5.549*RSR (R2 = 0.784, F (3, 36) = 48.190, p < 0.001). Coaches should consider body height, body mass, RSR, relative MSmax, and CMJ height when prescribing drop jump height. Moreover, an individual’s ODH should be adjusted when changes in CMJ height or relative MSmax occur. Finally, this study provides a practical prediction equation for estimating individual ODH using relative MSmax and CMJ height as input variables.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Strength and Conditioning Training, Beijing Sport University, Haidian, 100084, China

    Yongmin Xie, Fan Peng, Xinyu Pan & Qinchang Sun

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  1. Yongmin Xie
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  2. Fan Peng
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  3. Xinyu Pan
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Contributions

Yongmin Xie： Conceptualization, Funding Acquisition, Methodology, Writing - Original Draft, Data Curation, Project Administration, Fan Peng :Writing - Review & Editing, Methodology, Visualization Xinyu Pan:Writing - Original Draft Qinchang Sun :Writing - Original Draft.

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Correspondence to Yongmin Xie.

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Xie, Y., Peng, F., Pan, X. et al. Prediction of individual optimal drop height in drop jump from anthropometric and strength variables. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-45266-x

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  • Received: 10 August 2025

  • Accepted: 17 March 2026

  • Published: 31 March 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-45266-x

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Keywords

  • Plyometric training
  • Training intensity
  • Reactive strength
  • Optimal drop height
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