Enhancing vertical jump performance through real-time biofeedback: A randomized controlled trial in healthy individuals

Abstract

Real-time biofeedback (Rt-Bf) has gained substantial recognition in recent years as an invaluable tool in the fields of rehabilitation and sports medicine. Its application has piqued the interest of professionals across a wide spectrum of sports settings, making it a pivotal focus of research. The primary objective of this study was to investigate how the integration of biofeedback into training programs could impact the vertical jump and balance outcomes in healthy subjects, in direct comparison to traditional approaches such as verbal instructions (VER) and video observation (VO). A total of 262 active healthy subjects were randomized into three groups: VER, VER + VO, and VER + Rt-Bf. The subjects underwent a vertical jump test (squat jump) and a balance test (single-leg squat) following a pre-established protocol. After a 5-min rest period, the tests were repeated. During the rest period, each group received specific interventions: VER group received verbal instructions, VO group watched a video execution, and Rt-Bf group received real-time biofeedback. Gyko® technology was employed as the measuring tool, capturing and analyzing all relevant parameters associated with both the jump and balance protocols. The Rt-Bf group exhibited a significantly higher improvement in jump height (2.3 cm) compared to the other groups (p < 0.001). While the Rt-Bf group also demonstrated enhancements in various parameters of the single-leg squat, these improvements were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The findings suggest that incorporating an Rt-Bf protocol alongside VER significantly enhances vertical jump performance. Although balance parameter improvements were also observed in the Rt-Bf group, they did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). These findings reaffirm the pivotal role that Rt-Bf plays in augmenting physical performance in healthy individuals, offering a promising avenue for future research and application.