The vertical jump is a whole body movement with certain muscle groups playing a more important role in the overall force production. The most important muscles involved in the vertical jump are the glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves.
In addition, arm swing has been shown to increase vertical jump height as much as 25%, due to the pendulum-like inertia effect.
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Journal of Biomechanics
Volume 37, Issue 12, December 2004, Pages 1929-1940
Understanding how an arm swing enhances performance in the vertical jump
Abstract
This investigation was conducted to examine the various theories that have been proposed to explain the enhancement of jumping performance when using an arm swing compared to when no arm swing is used. Twenty adult males were asked to perform a series of maximal vertical jumps while using an arm swing and again while holding their arms by their sides. Force, motion and electromyographical data were recorded during each performance. Participants jumped higher (0.086 m) in the arm swing compared to the no-arm swing condition and was due to increased height (28%) and velocity (72%) of the center of mass at take-off. The increased height at take-off was due to the elevation of the arm segments. The increased velocity of take-off stemmed from a complex series of events which allowed the arms to build up energy early in the jump and transfer it to the rest of the body during the later stages of the jump. This energy came from the shoulder and elbow joints as well as from extra work done at the hip. This energy was used to (i) increase the kinetic and potential energy of the arms at take-off, (ii) store and release energy from the muscles and tendons around the ankle, knee and hip joint, and (iii) ‘pull’ on the body through an upward force acting on the trunk at the shoulder. It was concluded that none of the prevailing theories exclusively explains the enhanced performance in the arm swing jump, but rather the enhanced performance is based on several mechanisms operating together.
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The feet do little more in the vertical jump than add a stable base (which in a case such as we are discussing is re-inforced by a stiff carbon fiber insole).