The Validity of the Push Band 2.0 during Vertical Jump Performance

Abstract

The Push Band has the potential to provide a cheap and practical method of measuring velocity and power during countermovement vertical jumping (CMJ). However, very little is known about whether it conforms to laboratory-based gold standards. The aim of this study was to assess the agreement between peak and mean velocity and power obtained from the belt-worn Push Band, and derived from three-dimensional motion capture, and vertical force from an in-ground force platform. Twenty-two volunteers performed 3 CMJ on a force platform, while a belt-worn Push Band and a motion capture system (a marker affixed to the Push Band) simultaneously recorded data that enabled peak and mean velocity and power to be calculated and then compared using ordinary least products regression. While the Push Band is reliable, it tends to overestimate peak (9–17%) and mean (24–27%) velocity, and when compared to force plate-derived peak and mean power, it tends to underestimate (40–45%) and demonstrates fixed and proportional bias. This suggests that while the Push Band may provide a useful method for measuring peak and mean velocity during the CMJ, researchers and practitioners should be mindful of its tendency to systematically overestimate and that its measures of peak and mean power should not be used.

The reliability and validity of the bar-mounted PUSH BandTM 2.0 during bench press with moderate and heavy loads

“…With regards to the reliability of the PUSH Band TM 2.0, the results of this study support previous work that has shown the reliability of the original and PUSH Band TM 2.0 to be acceptable during dumbbell shoulder press and dumbbell curl (Sato et al, 2015), the Smith machine bench press (Perez-Castilla et al, 2019), the back squat (Balsalobre-Fernández et al, 2016;Banyard, Nosaka, Sato, & Haff, 2017), and vertical jumping (Lake et al, 2018;Montalvo et al, 2018;Ripley & McMahon, 2016). However, this counters other work that has considered its reliability during the bench press (Orange et al, 2018).…”

“…For each of the two load conditions the trial with the highest mean velocity (from the motion capture data) was selected for further analysis and validity was assessed using data from the different methods from this trial. The trials in which the highest mean velocity (from the motion capture data) occurred were identified on a load-byload and subject-by-subject basis and corresponding peak and mean velocity data from the both methods were taken from these trials (Lake et al, 2018).…”

“…The PUSH Band TM (PUSH Inc, Toronto, Canada) is a device that uses an accelerometer to provide peak and mean velocity data. The original version of this device was attached to the lifter's forearm via a sleeve (Balsalobre-Fernández, Kuzdub, Poveda-Ortiz, & Campo-Vecino, 2016;Montalvo et al, 2018;Ripley & McMahon, 2016;Sato et al, 2015), however the newest version of this device enables it to be fixed directly to the barbell or on the forearm (PUSH Band 2.0 TM ) (Lake et al, 2018). Additionally, this most recent version uses an accelerometer with a full range of ±16 g, and a sensitivity of 2048 least significant bit/g; its gyroscope has a full range of ±2000 degrees/s, and a sensitivity of 16.4 least significant bit/g.…”

The reliability of a linear position transducer and commercially available accelerometer to measure punching velocity in junior boxing athletes

“…A commercially available, inexpensive and user-friendly inertial measurement device is the accelerometer, which has recently gained popularity for measuring a variety of linear and angular spatio-temporal dynamics across weightlifting, kicking, cycling and throwing sports. 8 However, several accelerometers have demonstrated a poor ability to accurately measure linear kinematics during various tasks including powerlifting, 9 resistance exercises (e.g., bench press, squat and deadlift) 10 and athletic movements (e.g., vertical jump) 11 when compared with linear position transducers (LPTs). Therefore, a more plausible means for measuring linear kinematic data might be via LPTs, which use a tethered cord to measure two variables; displacement and time.…”

Autoregulation in Resistance Training: Addressing the Inconsistencies

“…Recent studies provide support for an enhanced training stimulus with results demonstrating superior improvements in both maximal strength and CMJ performance for individuals following a VBT protocol compared to those following a percentage-based programme [ 12 , 40 ]. However, to perform VBT, a device is required to accurately measure barbell velocity [ 41 ] and the accuracy of some devices have been shown to be limited [ 42 – 44 ]. In contrast, more accessible methods of autoregulation have been developed that do not require the use of sophisticated measurement devices.…”