A COMPARISON OF BASEBALL POSITIONAL DIFFERENCES WITH REACTIVE STRENGTH INDEX-MODIFIED

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine positional differences amongst 29 baseball players using the Reactive Strength Index-modified (RSImod) values during unloaded and loaded countermovement jumps (CMJ). A secondary purpose was to determine the relationship between other jump performance characteristics and RSImod values. All athletes underwent CMJ testing and RSImod values were compared between pitchers and position players. The loaded condition CMJ produced statistically different RSImod values between the two groups. Scaled peak force was somewhat more strongly related to RSImod than rate of force development (RFD). The current study indicates that position players may possess higher reactive strength capabilities than pitchers and scaled peak force may be more important than RFD in determining reactive strength characteristics.