The Relationship between Calf Sizes, Gender, and Vertical Jumps
Laura Thompson
Mikaela Toler, Cassandra Jenkins, Kionna Calloway
BSC 228-202 Introduction A human leg is made of many muscles that affect a person’s ability to jump. For example, the gastrocnemius, soleus, quadriceps, gluteus maximus, and abdominal muscles all help a person achieve a vertical jump. (McCollum, 2015). So, in other words, it basically takes the entire lower body to jump, not just the calf. This lab’s goal, however, was to determine whether calf size or gender affects a person’s ability to do a vertical jump and the height of it.
Calf size can be affected by one of two things: fat content or muscle content. The subjects in this experiment could be affected by either one of those. Depending on the particular body type of the student, they can either have more muscle in their calves or more fat. In addition, the amount of fat a person has can depend on their gender, too. Women tend to have more concentrated fat …show more content…
“SPRING 2015.”
Fat Differences in Men vs. Women. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2015, from http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=8519
Franz, J., & Kram, R. (2013). How does age affect leg muscle activity/coactivity during uphill and downhill walking? Gait & Posture, 37(3), 378-384. Retrieved February 8, 2015, from Marshall University.
Glenmark, B., Nilsson, M., Gustafsson, J., Dahlman-Wright, K., & Westerblad, H. (2004). Difference in skeletal muscle function in males vs. females: Role of estrogen receptor-β. American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, 287(6). Retrieved February 8, 2015, from Marshall University School of Med.
McCollum, C. (2015, January 28). Do Calf Raises Improve Vertical Jump? Retrieved February 9, 2015, from
Laura Thompson
Mikaela Toler, Cassandra Jenkins, Kionna Calloway
BSC 228-202 Introduction A human leg is made of many muscles that affect a person’s ability to jump. For example, the gastrocnemius, soleus, quadriceps, gluteus maximus, and abdominal muscles all help a person achieve a vertical jump. (McCollum, 2015). So, in other words, it basically takes the entire lower body to jump, not just the calf. This lab’s goal, however, was to determine whether calf size or gender affects a person’s ability to do a vertical jump and the height of it.
Calf size can be affected by one of two things: fat content or muscle content. The subjects in this experiment could be affected by either one of those. Depending on the particular body type of the student, they can either have more muscle in their calves or more fat. In addition, the amount of fat a person has can depend on their gender, too. Women tend to have more concentrated fat …show more content…
“SPRING 2015.”
Fat Differences in Men vs. Women. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2015, from http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=8519
Franz, J., & Kram, R. (2013). How does age affect leg muscle activity/coactivity during uphill and downhill walking? Gait & Posture, 37(3), 378-384. Retrieved February 8, 2015, from Marshall University.
Glenmark, B., Nilsson, M., Gustafsson, J., Dahlman-Wright, K., & Westerblad, H. (2004). Difference in skeletal muscle function in males vs. females: Role of estrogen receptor-β. American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, 287(6). Retrieved February 8, 2015, from Marshall University School of Med.
McCollum, C. (2015, January 28). Do Calf Raises Improve Vertical Jump? Retrieved February 9, 2015, from