Vertical jump without arm swing and running biomechanics in preschool children (3–6 years) : associations and developmental insights

Gregorc, Jera (author), Ljubičić, Sanja (author), Petrić, Vilko (author)

This study examined associations between vertical jump without arm swing and running biomechanics in 405 preschool children aged 3–6 years (53.5% girls) from kindergartens in Slovenia and Croatia. Vertical jump (CMJ) and 10-metre sprint performances were assessed using the OptoJump system, which captured temporal and spatial parameters, from which additional performance indices were derived. No significant sex differences were observed in jumping, while boys demonstrated higher running speed, shorter stride and swing times, and shorter ground contact phases. Moderate correlations were found between jump height, flight time, reactive strength index, and running speed, step length, and foot-ground contact duration, indicating shared biomechanical and functional mechanisms between jumping and running already present in early childhood. Individual variability was pronounced, highlighting the importance of personalized movement activities over sexbased differentiation. The findings suggest that activities targeting jumping mechanics may simultaneously support running efficiency, contributing to integrated locomotor skill development in preschool children. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and partial sprint measurement.

• Language: English
• Keywords: fundamental motor skills, locomotor development, preschool children, reactive strength index, running biomechanics, vertical jump
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: PEF - Faculty of Education
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 8 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 8, art. 1819016
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-182515
• UDC: 373.2:796.4
• ISSN on article: 2624-9367
• DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2026.1819016
• COBISS.SI-ID: 278160131
• Publication date in RUL: 14.05.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Frontiers in sports and active living
• Shortened title: Front. sports act. living
• Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
• ISSN: 2624-9367
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5650865

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: osnovne motorične sposobnosti, gibalni razvoj, moč, biomehanika, vertikalni skok, tek, predšolski otroci