Assessing Repeatability Of Lower Limb Power In A Thalassemia Population

ABSTRACT Thalassemia (Thal) is a disease that reduces the body's ability to produce hemoglobin. Without a sufficient amount of hemoglobin, individuals with Thal experience extreme fatigue and anemia. These physical imitations raise questions about the reliability of the vertical jump test with a Thal population. Purpose: To determine if the vertical jump test can produce repeatable results in a Thal population. Methods: Vertical jump repeatability was assessed in two sessions, 12 weeks apart, for fourteen participants with Thalassemia (11 males, 3 females). Between the two sessions, subjects were instructed not to change activity patterns. Reach and maximum jump height were recorded in three trials using Vertec. Peak jump power was calculated, using the Sayers equation [Power (W) = (60.7) × jump height (cm) + 45.3 × body mass (kg) -2055]. All outcome measures (reach height(cm), maximal jump height (cm) peak power (W), and relative power (W/kg) were compared between the two sessions using a paired t-test (p < 0.05). Results: There was no difference in standing reach height and maximum jump height between the first and second sessions (81.9 ± 7.5 cm vs. 82.8 ± 6.3 cm (p = 0.160) and (35.8 ± 10.9 cm vs. 35.8 ± 11.8 cm (p = 0.50). There was no change in peak power (2994 ± 792.9 W vs 2999 ± 784.2 W) (p = 0.476) nor relative power (46.6 ± 9.0 W/kg vs. 46.8 ± 9.4 W/kg)(p = 0.431). These results suggest that vertical jump assessed with the Vertec is repeatable in the Thal population. Conclusion The results show that the vertical jump measures remained consistent across both testing sessions, with no significant differences found in reach height (cm), maximum jump height (cm), peak power (W), and relative power (W/kg). These results suggest that the standing vertical jump test using a Vertec is a reliable measure of lower limb power in a Thalassimia population.