Vertical jumping activities are widely incorporated into exercise programs for training and rehabilitation, particularly among athletic populations. Given the high mechanical loads associated with landing, with peak vertical ground reaction forces (vGRF) often exceeding five times body weight, the aquatic environment has been proposed as an alternative setting for jump training. The combined effects of buoyancy and water resistance may reduce landing impact while increasing propulsive resistance. Previous studies have investigated the biomechanical characteristics of different jump modalities (squat, countermovement and drop jumps) performed in aquatic environments at immersion depths ranging from mid-shank (~0.25 m) to chest/shoulder level (~1.30 m). During landing, vGRF is attenuated under aquatic conditions, with the magnitude of reduction dependent on immersion depth. Greater immersion depths produce larger reductions in vGRF, with peak forces approximately 40% lower at hip-level immersion and 50% lower at chest-level immersion compared with land. During the propulsion phase of drop jumps, force reductions appear to be less pronounced (~20% and ~25% at hip and waist immersion levels, respectively). Regarding temporal parameters, drop jump contact times are longer in water than on land, even at shallow immersion levels. Available electromyographic evidence remains limited but suggests reduced activation of the medial gastrocnemius and rectus femoris during the braking phase, along with increased activation during the propulsion phase of drop jumps performed at ~1 m immersion compared with land. Although aquatic jumps exhibit distinct biomechanical characteristics compared with land-based jumps, evidence indicates that aquatic jump training can improve performance-related outcomes, including jump height, speed, agility, and muscle strength, in both athletes and non-athletes. However, selecting the appropriate immersion depth is critical. Additionally, coaches and practitioners should be aware that the reduction in landing loads provided by water is accompanied by prolonged movement phases, which may influence training effectiveness depending on the intended training objective.
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