The Anterior Hop Test measures single-leg horizontal hop distance. It is commonly used to assess lower-limb power, functional capacity and side-to-side performance during rehabilitation and athletic testing.
A client may regain strength after a knee or ankle injury but still struggle to express that strength in a single-leg hopping task. The Anterior Hop Test provides a simple way to assess horizontal power and landing control on each limb.
Test name: Anterior Hop Test
Purpose: Assess single-leg horizontal power and functional capacity
What it assesses: Hop distance, landing stability, limb confidence and asymmetry
Equipment: MAT, Hop MAT or tape measure
Key finding: Best hop distance and limb symmetry
Best used with: Triple Hop, Crossover Hop, 6 m Timed Hop, strength and balance tests
Key limitation: Distance alone does not capture full landing quality or return-to-sport readiness
The Anterior Hop Test is a single-leg hop for distance. The MAT article describes the client standing on one leg beside the MAT or Hop MAT, hopping forward as far as possible, sticking the landing and measuring from the start point to the heel of the landing foot.
It is used to assess lower-limb power and functional capacity, especially in athletes returning from lower-limb injury. It can help track progress and compare involved and uninvolved limbs.
It measures single-leg horizontal hop distance and landing control. It does not directly measure isolated muscle strength, ligament healing, diagnosis, pain mechanism or sport readiness.
Athletes, ACL rehabilitation clients, ankle rehabilitation clients, lower-limb injury clients and active people returning to running, jumping or sport.
MAT, Hop MAT or measuring tape
Flat non-slip surface
Measurz or MAT
Optional video review
Warm up with dynamic movement and progressive hopping.
The client stands on one leg with the opposite knee flexed.
Hands may be on hips or free depending on the chosen protocol. Keep this consistent.
The client hops forward as far as possible and lands on the same foot.
They must stick the landing for 1–2 seconds.
Measure from the start line to the heel of the landing foot.
Complete three trials per side with rest between trials.
Record the best valid distance or average consistently.
Record distance in centimetres or metres. Calculate limb symmetry index if appropriate:
LSI = involved limb score ÷ uninvolved limb score × 100.
A larger distance generally suggests better hop performance. However, a high distance with poor landing control should not be interpreted as optimal function.
The MAT article lists age- and sex-based example values, but these should be used cautiously because protocol, population and surface strongly affect results. Use individual baseline and matched population data where available.
Hop tests are widely used after ACL injury and in lower-limb rehabilitation. The MAT article references Barber et al., Myer et al. and Schneiders et al. in relation to hop testing and normative values.
Common errors include measuring from the wrong landmark, allowing unstable landings, inconsistent arm use, inadequate warm-up, fatigue and comparing results across different surfaces.
Use the Anterior Hop Test to monitor progress, compare limbs, guide power training and support return-to-running or return-to-sport decision-making as part of a broader test battery.
Record side, distance, trial number, best or average result, pain, landing quality, confidence, arm use, footwear, surface and related strength or balance findings.
It measures single-leg horizontal hop distance and landing control.
The MAT article describes three trials, with the best distance recorded.
It may be one useful benchmark, but it is not enough on its own. Movement quality, strength, symptoms and sport demands also matter.
Yes. Pain during take-off or landing changes interpretation.
The Anterior Hop Test is a simple single-leg power test.
Record distance and landing quality.
Compare sides only when both tests are valid and standardised.
Use it as part of a broader assessment battery.
Barber, S. D., Noyes, F. R., Mangine, R. E., et al. (1990). Quantitative assessment of functional limitations in normal and anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 255, 204–214.
Schneiders, A. G., Sullivan, S. J., Gray, A., et al. (2014). Normative values for hop tests in high school and collegiate basketball and soccer players. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 9(5), 596–603.
