Effect of Age and Sex on Lower Extremity Power Production Capacity Throughout the Lifespan Based on 30 217 Finnish Participant Data

ABSTRACT

This study examined lower‐extremity power using countermovement jump (CMJ) height and estimated peak power across the lifespan with five Finnish datasets. The pooled dataset included 24 804 males and 5413 females aged 6–75 years. CMJ height (cm) was measured on a contact mat from flight time(s), and peak power (W) was estimated using equations for adults and children and expressed also relative to body mass (W/kg). Five‐year age groups were formed for mean comparison. CMJ height and peak power increased throughout childhood and adolescence. From ages 11 to 15, males exhibited greater CMJ height and peak power than females. Based on mean values, CMJ height peaked at ages 16–20 and peak power at 21–25 in males, while both peaked at 21–25 in females. Males maintained their level until 26–30 years, whereas females showed a decline after the peak. Segmented regression models indicated earlier peaks for CMJ height (18 years in males, 17 in females) and slightly later peaks for peak power (21 years in males, 19 in females). Before the peaking age, annual relative increases calculated over 11–15 years were 5.6% versus 3.1% for CMJ height and 4.7%–7.6% vs. 4.0%–7.3% for peak power (males vs. females). After the peaking age, annual declines calculated over 52–58 years were 0.9% for CMJ height and 0.3%–0.7% for peak power in both sexes. The results provide insights into life‐course patterns and the transitional period of late adolescence and early adulthood, when jumping performance peaks and evidence is limited.