A standard operating procedure for the evaluation of vertical jumps performance through surface electromyography assessment: a scoping review

Introduction: The Countermovement Jump (CMJ) and the Squat Jump (SJ) are widely adopted tests to assess muscle strength and power. Neuromuscular data of the jump performance could be provided by surface Electromyography (EMG). While from a biomechanical and technical point of view, there are articles that support the two vertical jumps, less is published regarding surface EMG and the jumps. The objective of the present study was to review the literature to better understand the protocols adopted for a surface EMG evaluation during the CMJ and the SJ and eventually to propose a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). A SOP could be a useful tool to better understand, compare, and interpret the findings. Methods: A scoping review was performed. Data were collected on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus till 20th December 2024. The articles were screened against the eligibility criteria and narratively discussed. Results: A total of 54 articles met the eligibility criteria. The articles present important differences in the methodology and the procedures followed. Differences were also detected in the hardware and the data analysis. From the common information of the articles, a SOP was proposed. Conclusions: Different methodologies were adopted to evaluate neuromuscular function during the CMJ and the SJ tests. This makes difficult to compare the data. A SOP was proposed with information and guidelines related to muscles, hardware, and data processing. In this way, future studies could follow similar protocols increasing the possibility to compare the findings.